title: Psychosomatic symptoms and stressful working conditions among Palestinian nurses: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of perceived stressful working conditions have been found to have an adverse effect on physical and mental health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the associations between self-reported stressful working conditions and Psychosomatic Symptoms (PSS), and to investigate possible gender differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional study comprises 430 nurses employed in Hebron district, Palestine. Self-reported stressful working conditions were recorded, and a Psychosomatic Symptoms Check list was used to assess prevalence of PSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median score on the psychosomatic symptom checklist for the group was 11, (range 1-21). Women reported more symptoms than men, with medians 11.6 and 10.0, respectively (p = .0001). PSS were associated with more self-reported stressful working conditions for both men (p < .0001) and women (p < .0001). The association was strongest among men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PSS were associated with high self-reported stressful working conditions, and this association was strongest among the men.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology , National Institute of Occupational Health , Oslo , Norway.|b Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jaradat
authors.affiliation: c Occupational Epidemiology and Biological Research Lab, Department of Biology , Hebron University , Hebron, Occupied Palestinian Territory.
authors.forename: Khaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nijem
authors.affiliation: d National Competence Centre for Dual Diagnosis, Innlandet Hospital Trust , Hamar , Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lien
authors.affiliation: b Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stigum
authors.affiliation: b Section for Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology , Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjertness
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology , National Institute of Occupational Health , Oslo , Norway.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bast-Pettersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: gender differences; nurses; psychosomatic symptoms; stressful working conditions