title: Work stress models and diurnal cortisol variations: The SALVEO study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess components, subscales, and interactions proposed by the popular Job Demand-Control (JDC), Job Demand-Control-Support (JDCS), and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) work stress models in relation to diurnal variation of the stress hormone cortisol. Participants included 401 day-shift workers employed from a random sampling of 34 Canadian workplaces. Questionnaires included the Job Content Questionnaire to measure psychological demands, decision latitude, and social support as well as the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire to measure effort, reward, and overcommitment. Salivary cortisol was collected on 2 working days at awaking, +30 min after awaking, 1400h, 1600h, and bedtime. Multilevel regressions with 3 levels (time of day, workers, workplaces) were performed. Results revealed that JDC, JDCS and ERI interactions were not statistically associated with variations in diurnal cortisol concentrations. By contrast when assessing specific work stress subscales, increased psychological demands were linked to decreased bedtime cortisol, increased job recognition was linked to increased cortisol +30 min after waking and at bedtime, and finally increased overcommitment was linked to increased awakening cortisol and decreased cortisol at 1400h, 1600h, and bedtime. Sex moderation effects principally among men were additionally detected for psychological demands, total social support, and supervisor support. Our findings suggest that components and subsubscales of these popular work stress models rather than theorized interactions are more meaningful in explaining diurnal cortisol variations. In particular, psychological demands, job recognition, overcommitment, and to a lesser extent social support at work are the most significant predictors of diurnal cortisol variation in this large sample of Canadian workers. Importantly, the overall effect sizes of these subscales that explained diurnal cortisol concentrations were weak.
authors: School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal.
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Marchand
authors: Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University.
authors: Robert-Paul
authors: RP
authors: Juster
authors: School of Industrial Relations, University of Montreal.
authors: Pierre
authors: P
authors: Durand
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Montreal.
authors: Sonia J
authors: SJ
authors: Lupien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone