Evidence from:
J deJonge et al. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology. Mar (2001) Vol.74 #1 p.29.
The most interesting result is that emotional exhaustion predicted high, perceived job-demand and not the reverse. Emotional exhaustion could be anticipated to play a role in the development of psychological ill health. But this study seems to show that perceived job demands were not causal.
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Evidence from:
A Tsutsumi et al. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. Apr (2001) Vol.27 #2 p 146.
The authors conclude that job strain and demand reward imbalances are predictors of depression.
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Evidence from:
A Koustelios. Psychological Reports. June (2001) Part 1 p 627.
Outcomes were measured using the Maslach Burnout inventory, (emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment). Exposures of interest were; job satisfaction, role conflict and role ambiguity, measured by standard questionnaires.
This study found that none of the exposures measured here in any way correlated with burnout. That is there was no exposure response relationship. Correlations were found between burnout and shortcomings (as perceived) in pay and, promotion.
Comment
The suspicion that stress is being used as a bargaining tool in the teaching profession is suggested.
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Evidence from:
C Nimnuan, S Wessely et al. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. July (2001) Vol. 51 #1 p 361.
This study examined the case notes of consecutive referrals to gastroenterology, gynaecology, neurology, rheumatology, chest, cardiology, and dentistry. All subjects were aged 16 to 65 yrs old.
Cases were allowed to develop for 3 months following first examination, in case an underlying pathology became apparent.
Symptoms it would seem, are not necessarily evidence of pathology.
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Evidence from:
E Demerouti et al. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. August (2001) Vol.27 #4 p 279.
Job demands and job control were measured and compared with measures of health impairment (exhaustion and health complaints) and active learning.
Demands were not moderated by control. That is the ill effects of high demand were not offset by the beneficial effects high control.
Comment
The result lends support to risk assessment by means of a list of hazards approach.
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Evidence from:
LA Wise et al. The Lancet. September (2001) Vol. 358 #9285 p 881.
This case control study examines the association between adult onset, major depression and, early life violence. Childhood-only abuse seems to be a potent cause of adult onset depression.
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Evidence from:
Jo Rick et al. A critical review of psychosocial hazard measures. HSE Contract Research Report 356/2001
Stress risk assessment depends on information from employees. What is the best way to obtain and make sense of that information?
The authors compare 28 off-the-peg tools designed for stress risk assessment.
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Evidence from:
Dr. David Holman. Stress and Call Centre work. A Conference held on the 29th November 2001
A definition of a well run call centre was developed on the basis of well-being.
- Monitoring is not intense
- Monitoring is based on an effective system of performance feedback and when it is part of a development system
- Their skills are well used and the focus is on skills development
- They work in a supportive environment
- They have control over the method and timing of their work
- They are engaged in a variety of activities beyond their primary task
The challenge to Call Centre managers is to assess and record their reasonable view of these factors, as part of their stress risk assessment.