[Job control, job demands, social support at work and health among adolescent workers].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate physical and psychological dimensions of adolescent labor (such as job demands, job control, and social support in the work environment), and their relation to reported body pain, work injuries, sleep duration and daily working hours.


METHODS
A total of 354 adolescents attending evening classes at a public school in Sao Paulo, Brazil, answered questionnaires regarding their living and working conditions (Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire, 1998), and their health status. Data collection took place in April and May 2001. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine relations among variables.


RESULTS
Psychological job demands were related to body pain (OR=3.3), higher risk of work injuries (OR=3.0) and reduced sleep duration in weekdays (Monday to Thursday) (p<0.01). Lower decision authority in the workplace (p=0.03) and higher job security (p=0.02) were related to longer daily working hours.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that besides physical stressors, psychological factors are to be taken into account when studying adolescent working conditions, as they may be associated with negative job conditions and health effects.
Fischer
Frida M
FM
Departamento de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. fmfische@usp.br
Oliveira
Denize C
DC
Nagai
Roberta
R
Teixeira
Liliane R
LR
Lombardi Júnior
Márcio
M
Latorre
Maria do Rosario D O
Mdo R
Cooper
Sharon P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016272:Occupational Health; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace