title: Assessment of psychological and social current working conditions in epidemiological studies: experiences from the MUSIC-Norrtälje study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to present, evaluate and propose a tool for the assessment of psychosocial working conditions in epidemiological studies. A referent group of the large epidemiological study, the MUSIC-Norrtälje study of musculoskeletal disorders, was used. The respondents were 950 working persons (585 female and 365 male).
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-administered questionnaire and personal interview were used. The responses were subjected to factor analysis. The resulting model had components generated from the demand-control-support model and action theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result supported the use of different aspects of psychological job demands. The interview data seemed to be more related to factual exposure and the questionnaire data more to individual perception. The usefulness of the model was supported by associations between the model and psychosomatic symptoms and sleep disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of interview and questionnaire increases the possibility of interpreting the association between working conditions and health and may provide a more effective basis for interventions.
authors.affiliation: Deparement of Occupational Health, Stockholm County Council, Sweden. mans.waldenstrom@smd.sll.se
authors.forename: Måns
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: Töres
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Theorell
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahlberg
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nise
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vingård
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*