[Epidemiology of psychosocial distress in Korean employees].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample.


METHODS
A total of 6977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress.


RESULTS
The results showed that 23% of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand.


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e.g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.
Chang
Sei Jin
SJ
Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine.
Koh
Sang Baek
SB
Kang
Myung Gun
MG
Cha
Bong Suk
BS
Park
Jong Ku
JK
Hyun
Sook Jung
SJ
Park
Jun Ho
JH
Kim
Seong Ah
SA
Kang
Dong Mug
DM
Chang
Seong Sil
SS
Lee
Kyung Jae
KJ
Ha
Eun Hee
EH
Ha
Mina
M
Woo
Jong Min
JM
Cho
Jung Jin
JJ
Kim
Hyeong Su
HS
Park
Jung Sun
JS
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*