Workplace Culture and Biomarkers of Health Risk

Brad Shuck, Joy L. Hart, Kandi L. Walker, Jayesh Rai, Shweta Srivastava, Sanjay Srivastava, Shesh Rai, Aruni Bhatnagar and Rachel J. Keith ()
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Brad Shuck: College of Education and Human Development, University of Louisville, Suite #346, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Joy L. Hart: Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Kandi L. Walker: Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
Jayesh Rai: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Shweta Srivastava: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Sanjay Srivastava: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Shesh Rai: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Aruni Bhatnagar: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
Rachel J. Keith: Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: Workplace culture has been studied for impact on health risk; however, connections with robust biologic markers of health remain to be established. We examined associations between the work environment and urinary levels of catecholamines and their metabolites as biomarkers of sympathetic nervous system activity, indicative of stress. We recruited participants (n = 219; 2018–2019) from a cardiovascular risk cohort to investigate workplace culture, well-being, and stress. Participants completed seven questionnaires. Urine samples were used to measure catecholamines and their metabolites by LC/MS/MS. Pearson correlation and linear regression models were used after adjusting for demographics and creatinine. Participants reporting higher well-being had lower urinary levels of dopamine, serotonin, and 3-methoxytyramine. Participants reporting a more engaged and more positive workplace had lower levels of dopamine and 3-methoxytyramine. Reported workplace isolation was correlated with higher levels of dopamine and 3-methoxytyramine. Given correlations between catecholamines, we used 3-methoxytyramine for linear regression. In fully adjusted models, in environments with a more positive culture, levels of 3-methoxytyramine remained lower (β = −0.065 ± 0.025, p = 0.01) and indicated a positive association between workplace isolation and 3-methoxytyramine (β = 0.064 ± 0.030, p = 0.04). These findings are consistent with an important relationship between workplace environment and sympathetic nervous system activity.

Keywords: work determinants of health; work culture; work environment; health risk; chronic disease; catecholamines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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