Permalink : http://hdl.handle.net/2115/35624

JaLCDOI : 10.14943/34134

KEYWORDS : Self-rated health;job stress;acute stress reactions;occupational health;occupational health nurse

Aim: In the recent years, strategies for preventing job stress related diseases have been drawing much attention, and the role of occupational health nurses is now viewed as extremely important. The objective of this study was to identify the association between self-rated health, job stress and acute stress reactions among workers. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were mailed to 434 employees working for 9 enterprises in north Japan in December, 2004. Three hundred forty seven responses were returned (response rate - 80.0%). Acute stress reactions and job stressors were measured using the NIOSH General Job Stress Questionnaire, and their association with self-rated health was analyzed. Results: In men, self-rated health had weak correlations with the three scales of acute stress reactions. In females, self-rated health had moderate correlations with depression and somatic complaints. In both men and women, no correlations were found between subjective health and the three scales of job stressors. Conclusion: Self-rated health provides important information for decreasing and preventing mental health problems in the workplace. Therefore, it should be widely used in developing occupational health strategies.