Sex-specific interaction effects of age, occupational status, and workplace stress on psychiatric symptoms and allostatic load among healthy Montreal workers. (November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Juster, Robert-Paul; Moskowitz, D. S.; Lavoie, Joel; D'Antono, Bianca
• Is Part Of: Stress. Volume 16:Number 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 616
• Page End: 629
• Publication Date: 2013-11
• Subjects: Stress (Physiology) -- Periodicals; 616.98
• DOI: 10.3109/10253890.2013.835395
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1025-3890

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Socio-demographics and workplace stress may affect men and women differently. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess sex-specific interactions among age, occupational status, and workplace Demand-Control-Support (D-C-S) factors in relation to psychiatric symptoms and allostatic load levels representing multi-systemic "wear and tear". It was hypothesized that beyond main effects, D-C-S factors would be moderated by occupational status and age in sex-specific directions predictive of subjective psychiatric symptoms and objective physiological dysregulations. Participants included healthy male (<italic>n</italic> = 81) and female (<italic>n</italic> = 118) Montreal workers aged 20 to 64 years (Men: <italic>M</italic> = 39.4 years, <italic>SD</italic> = 11.3; Women: <italic>M</italic> = 42.8 years, <italic>SD</italic> = 11.38). The Job Content Questionnaire was administered to assess workplace D-C-S factors that included psychological demands, decisional latitude, and social support. Occupational status was coded using the Nam--Powers--Boyd system derived from the Canadian census. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory II. Sex-specific allostatic load indices were calculated based on fifteen biomarkers. Regression analyses revealed that higher social support was associated with less depressive symptoms in middle aged (<italic>p</italic> = 0.033) and older men (<italic>p</italic> = 0.027). Higher occupational status was associated with higher allostatic load levels for men (<italic>p</italic> = 0.035), while the reverse occurred for women (<italic>p</italic> = 0.048). Women with lower occupational status but with higher decision latitude had lower allostatic load levels, as did middle-aged (<italic>p</italic> = 0.031) and older women (<italic>p</italic> = 0.003) with higher psychological demands. In summary, age and occupational status moderated workplace stress in sex-specific ways that have occupational health implications.</p> </abstract>