Psychosocial factors at work, smoking, sedentary behavior, and body mass index: A prevalence study among 6995 white collar workers

This cross-sectional study examined whether psychosocial factors at work we re associated with smoking, sedentary behavior, and body mass index. The st udy population was composed of 3531 men and 3464 women employed as white co llar workers in 21 organizations. Data were collected at worksites. Psychol ogical demands and decision latitude at work were measured with the Karasek 18-item questionnaire. Smoking, sedentary behavior, and mean body mass ind ex were compared by quartiles of decision latitude and psychological demand s and by job strain categories. Prevalence of smoking; mean number of cigar ettes smoked per day, prevalence of sedentary behavior, and mean body mass index were not consistently associated with decision latitude, psychologica l demands, or high job strain. However, prevalence of smoking was elevated in women belonging to the highest quartile of psychological demands (odds r atio [OR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0 to 1.6) and in the active job strain groups in both men (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2 to 21) and women (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.0). Prevalence of sedentary behavior was elevated in men in the lowest quartile of decision latitude (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1. 7), in the passive group (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.5), and in the high str ain group (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.0 to 1.6). In women, this prevalence was elev ated in the third quartile of psychological demand (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.6). These results provide only partial support for an association betwee n some psychosocial factors at work and the prevalence of smoking and seden tary behavior.