title: Influence of work duration or physical symptoms on mental health among Japanese visual display terminal users.
abstract: The present study examined the relationship of work duration or physical symptoms to the mental health of visual display terminal (VDT) workers in Japan. The mental health status of 2,327 VDT users at an administrative office was investigated using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Subjects were asked about their age, sex, hours of daily VDT use, rest and breaks during VDT work, eyestrain, and musculoskeletal pain. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations with mental health status (GHQ-12 scores). The mean age of subjects was 39.5 yr (SD=10.3). Among all subjects, 36.7% could rest during VDT work and 66.9% received breaks during VDT work. The proportion of subjects who reported eyestrain and musculoskeletal pain were 19.6% and 25.7%, respectively. Eighteen percent of subjects were classified into a GHQ-12 high score group. Logistic regression analysis showed that age less than 40 yr, not receiving breaks during VDT work, and the presence of eyestrain and musculoskeletal pain were significantly associated with poor mental health status (high GHQ-12 scores). Using a VDT for more than 5 h/d and being female were also marginally associated with high GHQ scores (p<0.1). In conclusion, the management of physical health as well as work duration is important for good mental health status among VDT users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Zhaojia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Sumihisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kusano
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eida
authors.forename: Tai-ichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001248:Asthenopia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016288:Computer Terminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012146:Rest; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology