PSYCHOSOCIAL CORRELATES OF JOB STRAIN IN A SAMPLE OF WORKING WOMEN

Background: This study identifies potential mediators of job strain ef fects on health by determining whether psychosocial factors known to p redict an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause morta lity are higher among women who report high levels of job strain. Meth ods: Measures of job strain and other psychosocial risk factors were o btained in a sample of 152 female employees of a local corporation. Ca nonical correlation and analyses of covariance were used to assess rel ationships between job demands and decision latitude and other psychos ocial risk factors. Results: A significant (P = .002) solution to the canonical correlation analysis showed that high job demands and low de cision latitude were correlated with a pattern of psychosocial factors consisting of (1) increased levels of negative emotions like anxiety, anger, depression, and hostility; (2) reduced levels of social suppor t; and (3) a preponderance of negative compared with positive feelings in dealings with coworkers and supervisors. This pattern was confirme d by analyses of covariance that adjusted for demographic and specific job characteristics. Conclusions: The canonical correlation analysis results provide empirical support for the job strain construct. The mo st important finding is that health-damaging psychosocial factors like job strain, depression, hostility, anxiety, and social isolation tend to cluster in certain individuals.