Associations between job strain and the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio among management and nonmanagement personnel.
OBJECTIVE
To assess associations between the main, nonlinear, and interactive effects of the demand-control-support (DCS) model and the cortisol/dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) ratio, a biomarker of psychophysical well-being.


METHODS
Subjects were 596 employees from all occupational levels of a German airplane manufacturing plant. Multiple regression models controlling for age and gender were computed separately for employees with (n = 103) and without (n = 493) management responsibilities.


RESULTS
Among employees without management responsibilities, the dimensions of the DCS model did not predict the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. In contrast, among employees with management responsibilities, both linear and nonlinear job demand effects explained a substantial fraction of the cortisol/DHEA-S variance. Increasing levels of job demands were associated with decreasing cortisol/DHEA-S ratios (linear effect) with the quartile of moderately high levels of job demands representing an optimal level. Furthermore, we observed a significant nonlinear effect with job control and a significant interaction between job demands and job control among employees with management responsibilities. These results suggest a beneficial effect associated with moderate levels of job control. This may be due to a buffering effect against adverse levels of job demands (interactive effect) and the independent association with decreased cortisol/DHEA-S ratios (nonlinear effect).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study that provides evidence that the DCS model is associated with the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio. Among employees with management responsibilities, moderate levels of job control may help managers to cope effectively with job demands and may induce a favorable cortisol/DHEA-S ratio.
Mannheim Institute for Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Ludolf-Krehl-Strasse 7-11, Mannheim, Germany. michael.gadinger@medma.uni-heidelberg.de
Michael C
MC
Gadinger
Adrian
A
Loerbroks
Sven
S
Schneider
Julian F
JF
Thayer
Joachim E
JE
Fischer
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D006854:Hydrocortisone