Exposure to psychosocial work factors in 31 European countries

Isabelle Niedhammer (), Hélène Sultan-Taïeb (), Jean-François Chastang (), Greet Vermeylen and Agnès Parent-Thirion
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Isabelle Niedhammer: iPLESP - Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique - UPMC - Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 - INSERM - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
Hélène Sultan-Taïeb: LEG - Laboratoire d'Economie et de Gestion - UB - Université de Bourgogne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Greet Vermeylen: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions - EUROFOUND - European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
Agnès Parent-Thirion: European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions - EUROFOUND - European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

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Abstract: Although psychosocial work factors are recognized as major occupational risk factors, little information is available regarding the prevalence of exposure to these factors and the differences in exposure between countries. To explore the differences in various psychosocial work exposures between 31 European countries. The study was based on a sample of 14 881 male and 14 799 female workers from the 2005 European Working Conditions Survey. Eighteen psychosocial work factors were studied: low decision latitude (skill discretion and decision authority), high psychological demands, job strain, low social support, iso-strain, physical violence, sexual harassment, bullying, discrimination, work-family imbalance, long working hours, high effort, job insecurity, low job promotion, low reward and effort-reward imbalance. Covariates were age, number of workers in household, occupation, economic activity, self-employed/employee, public/private sector and part/full time work. Statistical analysis was performed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Significant differences in all psychosocial work factors were observed between countries. The rank of the countries varied according to the exposure considered. However, some countries, especially Denmark, Netherlands and Norway, displayed a significantly lower prevalence of exposure to four factors or more, while some Southern and Eastern countries, especially Czech Republic, Greece, Lithuania and Turkey, had a higher prevalence. Differences in psychosocial work exposures were found between countries. This study is the first to compare a large set of psychosocial work exposures between 31 European countries. These findings may be useful to guide prevention policies at European level.

Keywords: Psychosocial work factors; European countries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published in Occupational Medicine, 2012, 62 (3), pp.196-202. ⟨10.1093/occmed/kqs020⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01228097

DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqs020

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