[Correlation between nurse occupational stress and salivary alpha-amylase: an analysis of 131 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between nurse occupational stress and salivary alpha- amylase (SAA).


METHODS
Evaluation of occupational stress was conducted in 131 nurses. The activity of SAA was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The activity of SAA in nurses varied with age and working years. The baseline, work period, recovery, average activities of >35 age group were less than those of ≤ 30 age group; work period, recovery, average activities of ≤ 10 years group were higher than other two groups; there was no statistical difference between SAA vitalities of different degree groups (P>0.05). In nurses with high scores for job demands, the activity of SAA in working period was significantly higher than that in nurses with low scores (P < 0.05). The baseline SAA activity in nurses with high scores for role conflict and ambiguity was significantly higherthan thatin nurses with low scores (P < 0.05). The baseline SAAactivity was positively correlated with workload, role conflict, and role ambiguity (P < 0.05). The activity of SAA in working period was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, and technology utilization (P < 0.05), and was positively correlated with quantitative load, load change, work monotony, and workload (P < 0.05). The activity of SAA in recovery period was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, resource control, and technology utilization (P < 0.01). The average activity of SAA was negatively correlated with task control, decision control, resource control, technology utilization, opportunity for participating in decision-making, and promotion (P < 0.05), and was positively correlated with quantitative load, load change, workload, and role ambiguity (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The occupational stress in 131 nurses is correlated with the activity of SAA, which can be used as an objective biomarker for identification and evaluation of occupational stress.
School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Liuliu
L
Liu
Honger
H
Tian
Yongguo
Y
Zhan
Qingdong
Q
Zhan
Xinyun
X
Zhu
Lili
L
Cao
Hu
H
Zhang
D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014937:Work; D016526:Workload
D015415:Biomarkers; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases