The association of work stress with somatic symptoms in Chinese working women: A large cross-sectional survey

Authors/Creators

• Jian Li, Heinrich Heine Universitat, Faculty of Medicine, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Hui Ding, Capital Medical University China
• Han Wei, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital
• Lei Jin, Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing
• Lingna Kong, Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Beijing
• Kangna Mao, Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital
• Hong Wang, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital
• Jiangping Wu, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital
• Ying Wu, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital
• Liu Yang, Shenyang Women and Children Health Care Centre
• Yu Zhou, Haidian Maternal and Child Health Hospital
• Youxin Wang, Edith Cowan University
• Wei Wang, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
• Adrian Loerbroks, Heinrich Heine Universitat, Faculty of Medicine, Dusseldorf, Germany
• Peter Angerer, Heinrich Heine Universitat, Faculty of Medicine, Dusseldorf, Germany

Abstract

Objective It has been suggested that the relationship between work stress and somatic symptoms (e.g., cardiopulmonary, gastrointestinal complaints, general pain, and fatigue) is particularly pronounced in women. As evidence from China is sparse, we used a large sample of Chinese working women to test those potential associations. Methods Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study of 6826 working women in five urban areas in China who were free from major clinical disease. The sample was drawn from five occupations (physicians, nurses, school teachers, bank employees, and industrial workers). The Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire-15 were used to measure work stress and somatic symptoms, respectively. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression was performed to analyze the associations. Results 52.6% participants reported high work stress in terms of concurrent high effort and low reward. The distribution of severity of somatic symptoms covered the full range from minimal (37.3%) and low (30.6%), to medium (19.7%) and high (12.4%). The adjusted odds ratio of somatic symptoms by high work stress was 2.45 (95% confidence interval = 2.24–2.68), and all single psychosocial work factors (effort, reward, and over-commitment) exerted substantial effects on somatic symptoms (odds ratios > 2.00). Conclusions Work stress is strongly associated with somatic symptoms in Chinese working women. Future longitudinal studies and intervention studies are needed to understand and improve women's psychosocial work environment and their psychosomatic health in China and elsewhere

Keywords

China, effort-reward imbalance, somatic symptoms, women's health, work stress

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2016

Location of the Work

United States

Publication Title

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Publisher

Elsevier

School

School of Medical and Health Sciences

RAS ID

22393

Comments

Li, J., Ding, H., Han, W., Jin, L., Kong, L. N., Mao, K. N., . . . Angerer, P. (2016). The association of work stress with somatic symptoms in Chinese working women: A large cross-sectional survey. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 89, 7-10. Available here

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