• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.85-99
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• 1999

Chronic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis is believed to induce a significant psychosocial stressors. The concept of illness intrusiveness-illness induced life style disruptions-was hypothesized to affect psychosocial status. And demographic, socioeconomic, disease and social characteristics were hypotehsized to affect illness intrusiveness. Hierarchial multiple regression analyses were used. As a result, among the demographic factors gender was identified as contributor to directly increase the psychosocial stress and education level was identified to affect the psychosocial stress through illness intrusiveness. Among socioeconomic factors, the burden about the cost of medical treatment was found to indirectly affect the psychosocial stress through the illness intrusiveness. Also income and job were found to affect directly the psychosocial status. Among the disease characteristics, only the pain level was identified to increase the psychosocial stress through the illness intrusiveness. Among the social characteristics, perceived social support is identified to increase the psychosocial stress through the illness intrusiveness. Based upon these results, some suggestions were made for minimizing illness intrusiveness in rheumatoid arthritis and future research.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2005

This study examined the associations between job stress and psychosocial stress in telecommunication service workers. In this survey, four hundred seventy workers and six variables(general characteristics, state of health, job characteristics, personality, psychosocial characteristics, and job stress) were used to measure worker's subjective satisfaction and status of stress. The results of this study indicated that 135 workers($28\%$) were classified into a high risk group to stress, 317 workers($67\%$) were into a potential risk group, and only 18 workers($6\%$) were into a healthy group. Also the results indicated that job stress outcomes related to job characteristics, personality, and psychosocial characteristics.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.30 no.1 s.56
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• pp.129-143
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• 1997

This study was carried out to assess the relationship between job characteristics(job strain) and psychosocial distress, and to find out the effect of social support on psychosocial distress. The study design was cross-sectional, and included 1,211 industrial workers in middle-sized city. A self-administered questionnaire measured job characteristics(jod demand, job control), and social support(coworker support, supervisor support) at work. Psychosocial distress was measured using PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index), a 45-item self-administered instrument. Among the 1,211 respondents, the prevalence of psychosocial distress was 24.8% High job stram (high job demand + low job control) was present in 8% of the subjects. The crude odds ratio of high job strain was 4.76 (95% CI : 2.60-8.74), and those of active group and passive group were 3.81(95% CI : 1.82-3.95) and 2.64(95% CI : 1.77-3.94), respectively. The odds ratios of each group adjusted for sex, age, support, and religion were still significant. Our results supported the association between job strain and psychosocial distress. Social support at work, although significantly associated with psychosocial distress, did not modify the association between job strain and psychosocial distress.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.300-310
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• 2016

Purpose: Few studies have considered the psychosocial work environment factors in relation to employee health. This study explored the relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and self-rated health among Korean employees. Methods: The study population of 21,476 employees was derived from the 2014 Korean Work Environment Survey (KWES). Psychosocial work environment was measured by Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire scales. Results: Among employees at workplaces (n=21,476), 23.3% rated their health as poor. Among 12 indicators of psychosocial work environment characteristics, 'higher emotional demand', 'demands for hiding emotions', 'work-family conflict', and 'social community at work' were independently associated with risk of poor self-rated health of Korean employees after adjustment of all sociodemographics, work condition characteristics and physical work environment exposure. In addition, higher 'possibilities for development' and 'social support from supervisor' were more likely to decrease the risk of poor health. Conclusion: We suggest that psychosocial work environment is an important determinant of employees' health. The study results provide a good starting point for developing intervention and strategies for health improvement.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.46
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• pp.118-144
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• 2001

To examine association between psychological characteristics of Adult-Children of Alcoholics and psychosocial Problems was a purpose of this study. The data were collected on a written questionaire completed 765 adolescents who were consisted of children of alcoholic and nonalcoholic parents. Parental alcoholism was established using CAST and psychosocial problems were assessed by Youth Self Report. Psychological characteristics of ACOA were identified by Adult Children of Alcoholics Screening Test. This study showed that children of alcoholics possess distinct psychological characteristics and they have experienced a variety of psychosocial problems. Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted in order to determine the extent to which characteristics of ACOA affected on psychosocial problems. As a results, psychological characteristics of ACOA were significantly associated with them after controlling for the correlates of family structure, level of family functioning, and parental alcoholism. In addition, two group of ACOA were created on the basis of scores of ACAST. High-risk group had significantly higher YSR scores than low-risk group and it revealed that clinical intervention was needed for many adolescents in high-risk group. The results underscored the importance of ACOA syndrome in adaptation of children with alcoholic parents and suggested the need of future research focusing on development process of subtypes of ACOA.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.351-362
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• 2007

Objectives: The present study was intended to assess the mental health of nurses working for university hospitals and to establish which factors determine their mental health. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were given to 1,486 nurses employed in six participating hospitals located in Daejeon City and Chungnam Province between July 1 st and August 31st, 2006. The questionnaire items included sociodemographic, job-related, and psychosocial factors, with job stress factors (JCQ) as independent variables and indices of mental health status (PWI, SDS and MFS) as dependent variables. For statistical analysis, the Chi-square test was used for categorical variables, with hierarchical multiple regression used for determining the factors effecting mental health. The influence of psychosocial and job-related factors on mental health status was assessed by covariance structure analysis. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The factors influencing mental health status among subject nurses included sociodemographic characteristics such as age, number of hours of sleep, number of hours of leisure, and subjective health status; job-related characteristics such as status, job satisfaction, job suitability, stresses such as demands of the job, autonomy, and coworker support; and psychosocial factors such as self-esteem, locus of control and type A behavior patterns. Psychosocial factors had the greatest impact on mental health. Covariance structure analysis determined that psychosocial factors affected job stress levels and mental health status, and that the lower job stress levels were associated with better mental health. Conclusions: Based on the study results, improvement of mental health status among nurses requires the development and application of programs to manage job stress factors and/or psychosocial factors as well as sociodemographic and job-related characteristics.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 2015

In the perspective of industrial health management, it is important for the employee to decrease their job stress, to improve their productivity and quality of labor. In this study, the job stress, and it's influence on PWI(Psychosocial Wellbeing Index) were investigated by the questionnaire survey of 138 industrial workers who had studied assistive technology in college. The contents of questionnaire consist of the demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics, job stress and psycho-social stress. We evaluated job stress by KOSS-SF(Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Sort Form) and psychosocial stress by PWI-SF(Psychosocial Well-being Index-Short Form). To analyze the results, we evaluated the exposure level of KOSS and PWI by demographic characteristics and job-related characteristics using significance tests. Also, we estimated the relationship among demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics, job stress and psychosocial stress, using correlation analysis. As a results, all workers were found to be in a group under the high risky stress. It showed that the scale index of female's job non-autonomy and pwi were much larger than those of male's. Therefore, to guarantee job autonomy of female workers should be more emphasized, to improve their working environment. Job type had significant relationships with many job stress category; physical environment, job demand, job instability and organization culture. Regarding pwi, the scale index of the workers who is in charge of the civil service such as contacting the disabled and the aged in person, were much larger than that of the other workers. Accordingly, the job stress management program including physical environment, job demand, job instability and organization culture, should be suggested, to decrease the stress of the workers in charge of the disabled and the elders service. The strongest predictors of pwi was organization system through maximum positive relations between organization system and pwi. Therefore, it indicates that improvement of organization system such as a fair merit rating, a manpower supply, demand plan and department cooperation is urgently needed to reduce pwi.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.25-37
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• 2005

Objective : To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample. Methods : A total of 6,977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress. Results : The results showed that 23 % of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand. Conclusions : The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e. g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.71-87
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• 2009

The purpose of this study were to identify factors of successful aging and to suggest a successful aging model of elderly using Rowe & Kahn's model of successful aging. The components of the factors consisted of healthful status, physical·cognitive functions, psychosocial characteristics and productive activities. Data were collected from 2,958 elderly who has spouse and aged 65 above in KOSA Panel. Data were analyzed by Amos program 7.0 version. The statistical techniques were used descriptive statistics χ² and covariance structural analysis. Major findings of this study were as follows; Healthful status were positively related to increasing effort on physical·cognitive functions as well as psychosocial characteristics. Physical·cognitive functions were positively and directly related to psychosocial characteristics and productive activities. Psychosocial characteristics were positively and directly related to productive activities. Physical·cognitive functions and psychosocial characteristics were increased by receiving a direct and positive effort from healthful status. Productive activities were increased by receiving a direct and positive effort from physical·cognitive functions and psychosocial characteristics. Specific and realistic measures should be prepared for successful aging not only for present elderly but also for the future elderly people. Further research should be continued and encouraged to improve the implications for the successful aging especially in korea.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.15-31
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• 2000

The aim was to evaluate the prevailing ergonomic and psychosocial conditions regarding low back injury in an automobile assembly system. This study consisted of two parts. In the first part of the study, analytic biomechanical model and NIOSH guidelines were applied to evaluate risk levels of low back injury for automobile assembly jobs. Total of 246 workers were analysed. There were 20 jobs having greater back compressive forces than 300kg at L5/S1. Also, there were 44 jobs over Action Limit with respect to 1981 NIOSH guidelines. This might in part be explained by the ergonomic conditions of the company analysed generally being good, with a relatively low duration of 'combined' extreme work posture. The relationship between psychosocial factors and low back injury was examined in the second part of the study. It has recently been recognized that overall reaction to working conditions was influenced by a range of factors, some of which were physical and some psychosocial. The psychosocial environment surrounding the work place may contribute to the perception of risk and eventual ill-health. A battery of questionnaires concerning the psychosocial stress based on PWI(Psychosocial Well-being Index) and musculoskeletal pain symptoms at low back was completed by 246 workers at the same plant. Results showed that 207 out 246 workers experienced the symptoms and 27 workers were diagnosed as patients. Two groups(low stressed, high stressed) based on PWI score had no significant relationships with both symptoms and results of diagnosis. However, sensitivities for symptoms and diagnosis by PWI were 91.3% and 92.6% respectively. Finally, relationships between physical work load and psychosocial stress were analysed. Specifically, some postural factors {vertical deviation angle of forearm, horizontal deviation angle of upperarm, vertical deviation angle of thigh, etc) were highly correlated with psychosocial stress. The results illustrated that PWI scores were associated with some physical workloads. However, psychosocial stress levels couldn't be well related with the pain symptom as well as the actual incidence of low back injury since pain or discomfort regarding low back injury were more complex than that of other musculoskeletal disorders.