Gender differences in self-reported physical and psychosocial exposures in jobs with both female and male workers.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to determine whether men and women with the same job are equally exposed to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints.


METHODS
Men (n = 491) and women (n = 342) in 8 jobs with both female and male workers completed a questionnaire on exposure to work-related risk factors. Gender, job title, and potential confounders were included in the final statistical models. Separate analyses were performed for desk workers and assembly workers.


RESULTS
For most risk factors gender differences in exposure were found. Among desk workers exposures were most often higher for women, which was the opposite for assembly workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Although exposure assessment relied on self-report, it seems unlikely that gender differences in reporting behavior completely explained gender differences in exposure. Thus, gender differences in exposure are present within the same job.
Hooftman
Wendela E
WE
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, NL-1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van der Beek
Allard J
AJ
Bongers
Paulien M
PM
van Mechelen
Willem
W
D000328:Adult; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007587:Job Description; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors