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International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 6/2017

01-12-2017

Quantifying Multiple Work-Related Psychosocial Risk Factors: Proposal for a Composite Indicator Based on the COPSOQ II

Authors: Adrienne Stauder, Katalin Nistor, Tünde Zakor, Anita Szabó, Anikó Nistor, Szilvia Ádám, Barna Konkolÿ Thege

Published in: International Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine national reference values for the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ II) across occupational sectors and develop a composite score to estimate the cumulative effect of multiple work-related stressors, in order to facilitate the implementation of occupational health directives on psychosocial risk assessment.

Method

Cross-sectional data was collected via an online questionnaire. The sample included 13,104 individuals and was representative of the general Hungarian adult working population in terms of gender, age, education, and occupation. Mean scores were calculated for 18 scales on work environment and for 5 outcome scales of the COPSOQ II across 18 occupational sectors. We analyzed the association between a composite psychosocial risk score (CPRS), reflecting severity of exposure to multiple risk factors, and high stress, burnout, sleep troubles, and poor self-rated health.

Results

We found occupation-related differences in the mean scores on all COPSOQ II scales. Scores on the “Stress” scale ranged from 47.9 to 56.2, with the highest mean score in accommodation and food services sector. Variability was greatest with respect to emotional demands (range 40.3–67.6) and smallest with respect to role clarity (range 70.3–75.7). The prevalence of negative health outcomes increased with the CPRS. Five risk categories were formed, for which the odds ratio of negative outcomes ranged from 1.6 to 56.5.

Conclusion

The sector-specific psychosocial risk profiles covering 18 work environmental factors can be used as a reference in organizational surveys and international comparisons. The CPRS proved to be a powerful predictor of self-reported negative health outcomes.
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Metadata
Title
Quantifying Multiple Work-Related Psychosocial Risk Factors: Proposal for a Composite Indicator Based on the COPSOQ II
Authors
Adrienne Stauder
Katalin Nistor
Tünde Zakor
Anita Szabó
Anikó Nistor
Szilvia Ádám
Barna Konkolÿ Thege
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 1070-5503
Electronic ISSN: 1532-7558
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9651-6

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