Introduction: Global economic competition
and work intensification, change and
increased performance expectations lead
to increasing stress among employees, with
the potential of causing increased mental
complaints and disorders. A main risk factor
is the individually perceived stress which is
associated with workplace pressures such as
high levels of responsibility, possibility of errors
and risk of job loss, tight schedules, high
performance expectations, high work rates,
too much work and the necessity for attentiveness
at all times.
Materials and methods: In a medium-sized
company a cross-sectional study was performed
in which individual health profiles,
covering the ten most important health dimensions,
were assessed together with an
employee survey. The individual employee
took part in a computerised health consultation.
In addition, the management was provided
with a detailed health surveillance report
of the participating employees as basis
for targeted health promotion. The response
rate of the employees was 56.3 % overall.
Using univariate and multivariate logistic
regression techniques, predictors for subjective
individual and work-related strain were
assessed.
Results: Stress was prevalent in the employees
with levels of 32.6 % (perceived stress)
and 28.9 % (work-related strain; p = 0.04).
Poor working atmosphere was significantly
associated with perceived stress and workrelated
strain (OR = 4.6, CI 1.6–13.3, and OR
= 7.0, CI 2.3–21.9, respectively). Whereas females
and first generation immigrants suffered
from significantly higher perceived
stress than males and non-immigrants, these
differences were not observed or only to a
minor extent for work-related strain. Older
age groups were shown to have significantly
more work-related strain than the 16–35
years old age group.
Results: Stress was prevalent in the employees
with levels of 32.6 % (perceived stress)
and 28.9 % (work-related strain; p = 0.04).
Poor working atmosphere was significantly
associated with perceived stress and workrelated
strain (OR = 4.6, CI 1.6–13.3, and OR
= 7.0, CI 2.3–21.9, respectively). Whereas females
and first generation immigrants suffered
from significantly higher perceived
stress than males and non-immigrants, these
differences were not observed or only to a
minor extent for work-related strain. Older
age groups were shown to have significantly
more work-related strain than the 16–35
years old age group.
