OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between social support and occupational stress.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey involving 654 career people from different industries was conducted. Social support, the occupational stressors, personalities, and occupational strain were measured by using Occupational Stress Instrument.

RESULTSThe people from different occupations got different level of social support. Social support scores were significantly positively related to interpersonal relation, responsibility for people, responsibility for thing, advancement and participation, task identity, training adequacy, challenge, autonomy, job satisfaction, mental health, affective ambulance, positive emotion, self-esteem and coping strategy (P<0.05 or P<0.01), negatively to careers, role conflict, role ambiguity, job future ambiguity, negative emotion, depression symptoms, daily life stress and work locus of control scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The scores of interpersonal relation, responsibility for people, responsibility for thing, advancement and participation, task identity, training adequacy, challenge, autonomy, job satisfaction, mental health, affective ambulance, positive emotion, self-esteem and coping strategy with sufficient social support were significantly higher than those of deficient social support (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The scores of role conflict, role ambiguity, job future ambiguity, negative emotion, depression symptoms, daily life stress and work locus of control were higher than those of the latter (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Stepwise regression analysis showed that social support was the predictor of depression (R(2)>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSocial support affects occupational stress largely and plays an important role in maintaining mental health of career people. The people from different occupations get different level of social support.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Social Support ; Young Adult

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Facility Design and Construction ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; prevention & control ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo explore gender difference of relationship between occupational stress and depressive symptoms.

METHODSThe cross-sectional study was used to investigate 5338 workers in 13 factories and companies, the depressive symptoms were assessed with Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the perceived occupational stress was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Model Questionnaire. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between occupational stress and prevalence of depressive symptoms.

RESULTSPrevalence of depressive symptoms was 31.8% for all subjects, 33.8% for males and 27.7% for females, gender difference of prevalence was significant (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for males were significantly higher than those for females(P < 0.01 or 0.05), social support, reward and job satisfaction scores for males were significantly lower than those for females (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for workers with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than those for workers without depressive symptoms (P < 0.01) but job control, social support, reward, job satisfaction and positive affectivity scores for workers with depressive symptoms were significantly lower than those for without depressive symptoms (P < 0.01). Psychological demands, physical demands, job control, effort, overcommitment and negative affectivity scores for male workers with depressive symptoms were significantly higher than those for female counterparts (P < 0.01), but social support, reward, job satisfaction scores for male workers with depressive symptoms were significantly lower than hose for female workers with depressive symptoms (P < 0.01). Ratio of male workers and male workers with depressive symptoms with job strain and ERI > 1, high demands and low control, and high effort and low reward were higher than female counterparts (P < 0.01). The risk of depressive symptoms for female with high demands and low control was about two times as high as that for female workers with low demands and high control for psychological demands and physical demands (OR = 2.0), risk for females was slightly higher than that for males (OR = 2.04 and 2.17, respectively). The risk of depressive symptoms for workers with high efforts and low rewards was about two times as high as that for workers with low efforts and high rewards (OR = 1.70). No interactive effect between gender and job strain and ERI on depressive symptoms were found.

CONCLUSIONThe gender difference of relationship between depressive symptom prevalence and job strain may due to the difference of psychosocial factors between females and males. There may be no interactive effect between psychosocial factors and gender on depressive symptoms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the occupational health situation of female workers in the electronic enterprise. Methods A cluster sampling method was used to investigate the occupational health situation of 2560 female workers who were working in the workshops by questionnaire. The major occupational hazardous factors in the workplaces were monitored, and the health examination was conducted in 2560 female workers exposed to the occupational hazardous factors. Results The average age of 2560 female workers was (19.4±2.9) years, the average working days a month was (26.2±3.1) days, he average working time a day was (9.6±1.4) hours with work overtime at times. All hazard factors in the workplace are controlled within safe standard except for tin oxide concentration of air and noise level in workshop, 18.1％ of female workers exposed to the low concentration of benzene suffered from the decreased number of leukocytes. The heavy workload (such as, working overtime and moving heavy objects) and irrational ergonomic design induced obviously the muscular-skeletal system symptoms, such as backache, neurological symptoms, occupational stress, visual fatigue and accident injury as well. However, the enough interval rest could reduce significantly the occurrence of above symptoms (P＜0.05). Conclusion For the labor-intensive electronic enterprises, the occupational hazard prevention and control measures should be strengthened. The labor load regulation and rational ergonomic design can reduce the effects of the occupational hazard on the health of workers.

Objective To investigate the occupational health situation of female workers in the electronic enterprise. Methods A cluster sampling method was used to investigate the occupational health situation of 2560 female workers who were working in the workshops by questionnaire. The major occupational hazardous factors in the workplaces were monitored, and the health examination was conducted in 2560 female workers exposed to the occupational hazardous factors. Results The average age of 2560 female workers was (19.4±2.9) years, the average working days a month was (26.2±3.1) days, he average working time a day was (9.6±1.4) hours with work overtime at times. All hazard factors in the workplace are controlled within safe standard except for tin oxide concentration of air and noise level in workshop, 18.1％ of female workers exposed to the low concentration of benzene suffered from the decreased number of leukocytes. The heavy workload (such as, working overtime and moving heavy objects) and irrational ergonomic design induced obviously the muscular-skeletal system symptoms, such as backache, neurological symptoms, occupational stress, visual fatigue and accident injury as well. However, the enough interval rest could reduce significantly the occurrence of above symptoms (P＜0.05). Conclusion For the labor-intensive electronic enterprises, the occupational hazard prevention and control measures should be strengthened. The labor load regulation and rational ergonomic design can reduce the effects of the occupational hazard on the health of workers.

Objective To find out severity and types of syphilis infection in blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premrital medical examination in Zhoushan City and offer a new measure for prevention and treatment of syphilis. Methods Totally, 174 589 blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations were screened preliminarily for inapparent syphilis with non-TPHA, and then TPHA was applied to confirm the diagnosis, according to the National Standard No. GB 15974-1995, combining with clinical symptoms and physical check-up. Results A total of 1 327 cases of syphilis from 174 589 samples tested, including blood donors, attendants and persons to have their premarital medical examinations, were diagnosed, with an inapparent infection rate of 7. 60‰ in average, 6. 42‰in males and 8. 74‰ in females, with a sex ratio of 0.71 (X2 = 29. 92, P

Objective To assess the value of detecting sympathetic skin response (SSR) in the diagnosis of autonomic dysfunction in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Methods SSR measurement was performed in 47 PD patients and 20 healthy control subjects and the results were compared. The SSR was also comparatively analyzed between patients with and those without autonomic dysfimction. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the PD patients showed significantly lowered mean amplitude (2.56±1.47 vs 1.87±0.26, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (1.42±0.29 vs 1.55± 0.18, P<0.05) of the SSR in the upper limbs, with also lowered mean amplitude (0.76±0.39 vs 0.49±0.21, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (2.04±0.27 vs 2.13±0.16, P<0.05) in the lower limbs. Compared with the PD patients without autonomic dysfunction, those having autonomic dysfunction showed significantly lowered mean amplitude (1.89±0.33 vs 1.75±0.21, P<0.05) and prolonged latency (1.53±0.15 vs 1.56±0.17, P<0.05) of SSR in the upper limbs and lowered mean amplitude (0.51±0.17 vs 0.46±0.20,P<0.05) and prolonged latency (2.08±0.24 vs 2.17±0.18, P<0.05) in the lower limbs. Conclusion The results of SSR measurements are consistent with the clinical manifestations of the PD patients. SSR can be of value in the diagnosis of autonomic nerve dysfunction in PD.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and correlated factors of daily hassles among thermal power plant workers.

METHODSA mass screening of daily hassles and correlated factors was conducted on 498 workers from a thermal power plant in Zhengzhou in July, 2008. The questionnaires included Daily Hassles Questionnaires, Work Roles Questionnaires, Job Content Questionnaires (Chinese version), Effort-Reward Imbalance (Chinese version), Work Locus of Control Scale and Type A Behavior Scale, with content covering demographic characters and occupational stress correlated factors among subjects. The daily hassles was divided into lower level and higher level according to scores, and the epidemiological characteristics and correlated factors of daily hassles were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 446 qualified questionnaires were obtained, effective response rate was 89.6% (446/498). For respondents, the age was (36.96 ± 6.49) years old, working length of the current job was (12.05 ± 7.54) years, the daily hassles scores was (9.01 ± 2.50), and the prevalence rate of the higher level of daily hassles was 34.1% (152/446). The multiple non-conditional logistic regression analysis showed 5-14 years' working length of current job (OR = 0.451, 95%CI: 0.225 - 0.904), average income > 3000 yuan(OR = 0.372, 95%CI: 0.202 - 0.684), reward (OR = 0.557, 95%CI: 0.325 - 0.954) and coping strategy (OR = 0.552, 95%CI: 0.330 - 0.925) were negatively correlated with daily hassles, and shift-work (OR = 1.887, 95%CI: 1.108 - 3.215), effort (OR = 2.053, 95%CI: 1.198 - 3.519), psychological demand (OR = 1.797, 95%CI: 1.049 - 3.078), negative affectivity (OR = 3.421, 95%CI: 2.065 - 5.668) were positively correlated with daily hassles.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence rate of the higher level of daily hassles was considerable high for thermal power plant workers. Its negative correlated factors included 5 - 14 years' working length of the current job, average income > 3000 yuan, reward and coping strategy and its positive corelated factors included shift-work, effort, psychological demand and negative affectivity.

Adult ; Burnout, Professional ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Power Plants ; Stress, Psychological ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of affectivity trait on relationships between occupational stress and subjective physical health and job satisfaction.

METHODSSelf-reports for psychosocial work conditions and health and well-being in a sample of 878 workers from a thermal power plant in China were conducted using the job demand-control model, the effort-reward imbalance model, job satisfaction, depression symptom, and physical health complaints questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used by controlling for age, sex, and educational level.

RESULTSNegative and positive affectivity were correlated with occupational stressors or strains (P<0.01). In the most equation of job dissatisfaction, psychosomatic complaints and depressive symptoms as dependent variables respectively, odds ratios decreased greatly when negative affectivity or positive affectivity was controlled; Odds ratios decreased greater when negative affectivity and positive affectivity were controlled simultaneously. Furthermore in some equation no variable entered.

CONCLUSIONAffectivity trait has effect on relationships between occupational stress and subjective physical health and job satisfaction. According to the outcome category of study, the possible confounding role of affectivity should be controlled in the study of the relationships between occupational stress and health self-reports.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Affect ; Burnout, Professional ; Female ; Health Status ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEEstablishment of determination method of carbon disulfide in charcoal tube with low toxicity solvents desorption-gas chromatography.

METHODSFour types of solvent with low toxicity are applied respectively as substitution of benzene to desorb the carbon disulfide in samples of charcoal tube. The signal strength and desorption efficiency of the detector are compared by using different solvents.

RESULTSChloroform has been considered as the best alternative solvent of benzene. Carbon disulfide has a good linearity (R = 0.9997) over the concentration of 0 ∼ 54.7 µg/ml, detection limit can reach 0.2 µg/ml. When the sampling volume is 3.0 L, the minimum detectable concentration is 0.07 mg/m(3).

CONCLUSIONWith the use of chloroform, the health hazard to laboratory personnel and environment pollution as well as the costs of experiments are reduced.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Carbon Disulfide ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Solvents ; analysis ; Workplace