T. Kageyama et al., Mental health of scientific researchers I. Characteristics of job stress among scientific researchers working at a research park in Japan, INT A OCCUP, 74(3), 2001, pp. 199-205
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
In order to clarify the characteristics of job stress in scientific researc
hers, a self-administered questionnaire survey for 16,330 workers was carri
ed out at Tsukuba Research Park City, Japan. The data of 7,063 (43%) worker
s aged 20-59 years old were analyzed, and the characteristics of job stress
in 3.290 scientific researchers were compared with those of 1,799 technici
ans and 1,849 clerks. The researchers perceived higher quantitative and qua
litative workload, greater job control (job decision latitude), and greater
reward from work, than did the other two job groups. In addition, young ma
le researchers received a large amount of support from their coworkers, whi
le middle-aged male researchers perceived difficulty in personal relationsh
ips with their coworkers. From the viewpoints of the demand-control-support
model and the effort-reward imbalance model, the researchers, particularly
men, were typically occupied in active jobs, and the large amount of effor
t required for their work seemed to be balanced by greater reward from work
. Compared with male researchers, however, female researchers perceived les
ser job demand, lesser job control, and lesser reward from work. The workin
g environment of female researchers may be related to the so-called career
stress of working women. The mental health status of these scientific resea
rchers should be examined directly in a future study.