OBJECTIVETo investigate level and its influential factors of occupational stressors and strains in workers of a steel plant and explore the feasibility of occupational stress and mental health as indicators of effect evaluation of health promotion at workplace.

METHODS1039 workers were investigated by using cross-sectional method. The questionnaires included job stressors, skill discretion, job control latitude, mental health and sleep disorders.

RESULTS54.5% of respondents reported "job doesn't allow mistakes" as stressor, while 47.6% of respondents reported "too job responsibility" as stressor. The scores of job stressors were significantly higher than female workers (P<0.01). Workers with high education level scored more skill discretion, job control latitude and lower mental health than ones with low educational level (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Elder workers had more skill discretion and job control latitude scores than younger. There were significant differences in scores of skill discretion among different length of service groups (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in scores of skill discretion among different job title groups (P<0.01). Occupational stressors were correlated significantly positively with sleep disorder (r=0.37, P<0.01), but job control latitude negatively to mental health (r=-0.19, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe workers in the steel plant report occupational stressors, which is related to poor self-reported health symptoms. The occupational stressors and mental health should be considered as one of effect evaluation indicators of health promotion at workplace.