title: The psychosocial work environment is associated with risk of stroke at working age.
abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the relation between the risk of first-ever stroke at working age and psychological work environmental factors. Methods A consecutive multicenter matched 1:2 case-control study of acute stroke cases (N=198, age 30-65 years) who had been working full-time at the time of their stroke and 396 sex- and age-matched controls. Stroke cases and controls answered questionnaires on their psychosocial situation during the previous 12 months. The psychosocial work environment was assessed using three different measures: the job-control-demand model, the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) score, and exposures to conflict at work. Results Among 198 stroke cases and 396 controls, job strain [odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.05-1.62], ERI (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.01-1.62), and conflict at work (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.07-2.88) were independent risk factors of stroke in multivariable regression models. Conclusions Adverse psychosocial working conditions during the past 12 months were more frequently observed among stroke cases. Since these factors are presumably modifiable, interventional studies targeting job strain and emotional work environment are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Blå stråket 7, plan 3, 415 35 Göteborg, Sweden. katarina.jood@neuro.gu.se.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jood
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medin
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pessah-Rasmussen
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ekberg
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012201:Reward; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*