Work Related Stress, Well-Being and Cardiovascular Risk among Flight Logistic Workers: An Observational Study

Luigi Isaia Lecca, Marcello Campagna, Igor Portoghese, Maura Galletta, Nicola Mucci, Michele Meloni and Pierluigi Cocco
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Luigi Isaia Lecca: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico E, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Marcello Campagna: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico E, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Igor Portoghese: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico E, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Maura Galletta: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico E, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Nicola Mucci: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Michele Meloni: CENTRALABS, University of Cagliari, Engineering Labs, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
Pierluigi Cocco: Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico E, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042 Monserrato, Italy

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: Work-related stress is a known occupational hazard, with a putative role on the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Although several investigations have explored the association in various workplace scenarios, none have focused on the airport flight logistic support personnel, a transportation business of crucial importance, potentially exposed to job stress and consequently to an increase in CVD risk. We explored the relationship between work-related stress and cardiovascular risk in 568 healthy workers of a flight logistic support company using the Health and Safety Executive questionnaire, the Framingham Heart Study General Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Prediction Score, and the WHO general well-being index (WHO-5). We used univariate and multivariate statistical methods to take account of possible confounders. Our results show that a low job support significantly increases the CVD risk score and decreases the WHO well-being index with reference to subjects reporting high support on the job. In addition, the well-being index of workers with high strain jobs appears lower in respect to workers employed in low strain job. The multivariate analysis confirms a protective effect of job support, and shows a detrimental influence on CVD risk by physical inactivity, regular intake of alcohol, and a low educational level. In addition, job control, job support, low strain, and high demand coupled with high control (active job) showed a beneficial effect on psychological well-being. Our results suggest that a combination of general risk factors and organizational factors contributes to increase CVD risk and well-being, representing a crucial target for intervention strategies to promote health in the workplace.

Keywords: work-related stress; cardiovascular risk score; Karasek taxonomy; general well-being; tailored workplace health promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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