title: Organizational justice is related to heart rate variability in white-collar workers, but not in blue-collar workers-findings from a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Perceived injustice at work predicts coronary heart disease. Vagal dysregulation represents a potential psychobiological pathway.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We examined associations between organizational justice and heart rate variability (HRV) indicators. Grounded in social exchange and psychological contract theory, we tested predictions that these associations are more pronounced among white-collar than among blue-collar workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data from 222 blue-collar and 179 white-collar men were used. Interactional and procedural justice were measured by questionnaire. Ambulatory HRV was assessed across 24 h. Standardized regression coefficients (β) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among white-collar workers, interactional justice showed positive relationships with 24-h HRV, which were strongest during sleeping time (adjusted βs≥0.26; p values≤0.01). No associations were found for blue-collar workers. A comparable but attenuated pattern was observed for procedural justice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both dimensions of organizational injustice were associated with lowered HRV among white-collar workers. The impact of justice and possibly its association with health seems to differ by occupational groups.
authors.affiliation: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Raphael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Herr
authors.forename: Jos A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Annelies E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: van Vianen
authors.forename: Marc N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Jarczok
authors.forename: Julian F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Thayer
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Joachim E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loerbroks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D015279:Organizational Culture; D012923:Social Class; D012935:Social Justice / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*