title: Relationship of job strain and iso-strain to health status in a cohort of women in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the relationships of job strain and iso-strain psychosocial work-environment exposures to health status in a cohort of working women in the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional survey, 33689 women responded to the Karasek job content and the MOS SF-36 health status questionnaires. The psychosocial work-environment exposures were characterized using the job strain and iso-strain frameworks. Health status was assessed with the following 6 scales: physical functioning, vitality, freedom from pain, mental health, role limitations due to physical health, and role limitations due to emotional health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared with active work, high-strain work (high job demands and low job control) was associated with lower vitality, mental health, higher pain, and increased risks of both physical and emotional role limitations. Iso-strain work (high strain and low work-related social support) increased the risks further. Job insecurity was also associated with lower health status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analyses supported the hypothesis that the psychosocial work environment is an important determinant of health status among working women. The findings suggest that incorporating social conditions at work into the measurement of psychosocial work-environment exposure improves the identification of high-risk work arrangements.
authors.affiliation: The Health Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, United States. benjamin.amick@es.nemc.org
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Amick
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kawachi
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Colditz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States