title: Substantiating the concept of work strain: its implication for the assessment of work stressors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess which work stressors are substantially contributing to work strain and examine their relative contribution.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively examined the association between work stressors and work strain, which was defined as employees reporting ill due to work stress. Relevant work stressors were combined into a stressor score with each stressor having its own relevance. Standardized odds ratios (SORs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis and used to compare the associations obtained between already existing scales and the stressor score with work strain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stressor score yielded an SOR of 1.89 (95% confidence interval: 1.49 to 2.41) for work strain, while psychological demands (JCQ) yielded an SOR of 1.46 (95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 1.88) for work strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We were able to extend and substantiate the range of relevant work stressors into a more comprehensive measure, which should be used to optimize prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, School CAPHRI, Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands. karolina.szerencsi@maastrichtuniversity.nl
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szerencsi
authors.forename: Ludovic
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: van Amelsvoort
authors.forename: Ijmert
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D016017:Odds Ratio; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D005082:Physical Exertion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018582:Sick Leave; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult