Health risks of psychosocial stress at work: evidence and implications for occupational health services

摘要

The importance of work for health goes beyond traditional occupational diseases. Given the far reaching changes in the nature of work in advanced societies, health-adverse psychosocial work environments are becoming more prevalent. These psychosocial work environments are characterized by work pressure, frequent interruptions, information overload, and a low level of task control or autonomy. Irregular working hours, shift work and exposure to noise may aggravate adversity, as is the case with threats of job instability and redundancy, forced mobility and the prospects of involuntary retirement. As will be discussed, these psychosocial work factors affect people's health and well-being, and this needs to be considered under the purview of occupational health.