Association between work exposure to neurotoxic substances with workers' relationships with their social network

Background: This study explored the impact on family life and social relati ons that may result from symptoms associated with exposure to neurotoxic su bstances in the workplace. We assessed the associations between exposure to neurotoxic substances in the workplace, workers'mental health, and workers 'relationships with their social network. Methods: A sample of 53 workers and their spouse completed a series of ques tionnaires, an interview on work history, and a structured interview assess ing their personal relationships. Exposure to neurotoxic substances in the workplace were assessed by an interview, using a semiquantitative classific ation system. Mental health was measured with the Profile of Mood States (P OMS), and marital satisfaction with the Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). The social network's characteristics were assessed with the Northern California Community Study Interview Schedule (NCCS). The associations between exposu re and social networks were assessed with regression analyses. Results: There were no associations between exposure and marital satisfacti on. However, we found a negative association between workers'exposure and d egrees of overlap between husbands' and wives' social networks (Pearson's c orrelation r=-0.27; p<0.05) and a positive association between exposure and workers' dependency on their support network (r=0.46; p<0.01). Conclusion: The results are discussed in terms of variables potentially lin king exposure to social relationships as well as in terms of couples' vulne rability to marital distress among exposed workers.