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Objective: To investigate the relationship between work in shifts and occupational stress., Methods: A total of 5338 employees from 13 companies were investigated by cluster sampling, and occupational stress measuring tools, job content questionnaire, and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire were used to investigate occupational stress factors, stress reaction, and the condition of work in shifts., Results: The employees who worked in shifts accounted for 46.6%. The condition of work in shifts varied significantly across different companies, employees with different individual features (including sex, job title, degree of education, age, working years, smoking, and drinking), and employees with different weekly working times(P<0.01 or P<0.05); health status was associated with work in shifts(P<0.01); compared with the employees who did not work in shifts, those who worked in shifts had significantly lower scores of technology utilization, work control level, psychological need, reward, social support, and job satisfaction(P<0.01 or P<0.05), as well as significantly higher scores of physical demands, effort, depressive symptoms, and negative affectivity(P<0.01)., Conclusion: Work in shifts can affect health status, and is associated with occupational stress.

Objective: To explore the influence of occupational stress and related factors on depression symptoms in train drives., Methods: In March 2012, by using cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in 1 402 train drivers in China. Questionnaires was investigation was conducted by face to face interview. Sample with missing variables on demographic characteristics questionnaire with missed survey variables, and occupational stress related factors and with over 3 item missing in depression symptoms self-rating scale were exclued. Depression symptoms were measured by Center for Epidemiological Survey Depression Scale. The occupational stress related actors were measured by the revised effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaires and occupational stress measurement scale. Chi-square test was carried out to analyze the differences of the incidence of depressive symptoms among different general characteristics groups, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the influence of occupational stress and related factors on depression symptoms in train drivers., Results: The study showed that the average age of 1 402 subjects was (34.95±9.20) years, the length of service were (13.28±9.78) years, the score of depressive symptoms was (24.14±5.98) scores. 902 subjects (64.3%,902/1 402) were classified as people with depressive symptoms, the incidence of depressive symptoms in EMU or high-speed train drivers were the highest (68.0%,51/75); Incidence of depressive symptoms showed that were statistically significant differences in two groups of technical secondary school and college, and incidence of depressive symptoms in the junior college and above group (68.1%,352/517) was higher than that in the senior high school and below group (62.1%, 550/885) (χ(2)=5.02, P=0.025). The results of the multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that high levels of education (OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.12-2.19), role conflict (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.21-2.24), role ambiguity (OR=1.99, 95% CI: 1.45-2.73), negative emotion(OR=2.87, 95%CI: 2.15-3.82), daily tension(OR=2.86, 95%CI: 2.11-3.86), poor colleagues and family support (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.11-2.16 and OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.27-2.41) were risk factors of depressive symptoms, but positive emotion (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.53-0.96), self-esteem (OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.16-0.30), and job itself satisfaction (OR=0.48, 95%CI: 0.35-0.65) were protective factors of depressive symptoms in train drivers., Conclusion: Train drivers, in particular EMU or high-speed train drivers who were prone to depressive symptoms. To arrange reasonably job roles and tasks, increase support from superiors, colleagues, and family, bring up healthy and coordinated personality, keep a good mood, promote job satisfaction, reduce the daily tension have positive effects on reducing the occurrence of depressive symptoms for train drivers.

Objective: To explore the relationship of occupational stressors with the serum levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)., Methods: Using convenience sampling and cluster sampling methods, 225 policemen from a local police station in China were enrolled as subjects. Questionnaires were used to investigate demographic features and occupational stressors in those subjects. The serum levels of T3, T4, and TSH were measured by radioimmunoassay. The SPSS 13.0 software was used to perform t test or analysis of variance, partial correlation analysis, and multivariate non-conditional logistic regression analysis., Results: Reward was positively correlated with the level of T3(P<0.05). Daily tension was positively correlated with the level of T4(P<0.05). Psychological demand, effort, and daily tension were negatively correlated with the level of TSH (all P<0.05). The quality of sleep was positively correlated with the level of TSH (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of increase in T3 level in the group with a high score for daily tension was 3.19-fold higher than that in the group with a low score, while the risk of increase in T3 level in the group with a high score for negative emotion was 1.32-fold higher than that in the group with a low score. The risk of increase in TSH level in the group with a high score for negative emotion was 0.43-fold that in the group with a low score., Conclusion: The occupational stressors are correlated with the serum levels of thyroid hormones. Occupational stress can result in an increase in T3 level and a decrease in TSH level. However, occupational stress has no effect on T4 level.

Objective: To explore the influence of occupational stress related factors on depression symptoms among 244 policemen in a city in China., Methods: In May 2011, 287 policemen from a city public security bureau were recruited to this survey by cluster sampling method. We deleted questionnaires which include missing variables on demographic characteristics and factors associated with occupational stress questionnaires which include over 3 missing items. 244 policemen were included in this study. Depression symptoms and occupational stressors were measured using Chinese version of depression self-reported questionnaire, job content questionnaire, Chinese version of effort-reward imbalances questionnaire, job hazard scale and occupational stress inventory. Depression symptom scores and the relationship between the variables and occupational stress were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis., Results: The Median (P25-P75) of depression symptom scores of all respondents was 16.50 (11.00-25.00). 144 were policemen with no depression symptoms and 100 were with depression symptoms. The median (P25-P75) of depression symptoms scores among policemen with length of serves <10, 10-19, 20-29 and ≥30 was 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively. The difference of scores was significant among length of serves groups (χ2=9.52, P=0.023). The scores of psychological demands, sleep disorder, daily life stress and negative affectivity among policemen with depression symptoms were 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively, which were higher than those with no depression symptoms (24.00 (22.00-25.00), 8.00 (5.00-13.00), 8.00 (6.00-10.00), 1.00 (0-2.75)), and the differences were significant (Z=3.82, 5.39, 5.15, 6.41, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that depression symptoms score was positively related to sleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores. Correlations coefficient were 0.44, 0.28, 0.28, 0.33, 0.38, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-esteem, daily life stress and negative affectivity had bigger contribution on the depression symptoms scores. The standard regression coefficient was -0.46, 0.19 and 0.13, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.030)., Conclusion: Sleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores were the inducement of depression symptoms for policemen. To reduce the daily life stress, negative affectivity and improve the quality of sleep, add to self-esteem, reward and social support have positive effects on reducing the occurrence of depressive symptoms for police.

Objective: To explore depressive symptoms and influencing factors in employees from 13 enterprises., Methods: A total of 6711 workers from 13 enterprises were investigated by cluster sampling, and data were collected anonymously between November 2008 and June 2009. Job satisfaction, occupational stressors, strains, coping strategy, and social support were measured using occupational stress instruments, job content questionnaire, and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire., Results: Median and P25~P75 values of depression score were 14 and 9~21, respectively. The depression score of male workers (16.31 ± 10.12) was significantly higher than that of female workers(14.50 ± 9.08) (Z=4.09, P<0.01). The depression score of managers was lowest (12.89 ± 8.70), and the front-line workers scored highest (16.02 ± 9.94), with a significant difference between the two groups (χ² =9.90, P<0.01). The depression score of shift workers (16.79 ± 9.974) was significantly higher than that of non-shift workers (14.81 ± 9.63) (Z=53.43, P<0.01). The depression scores of workers with weekly job times of ≤ 40 h, ~50 h, ~59 h, and ≥ 60 h were (14.70 ± 9.94), (15.76 ± 9.84), (15.46 ± 9.91), and (19.70 ± 10.67), respectively (χ² = 31.79, P <0.01). Correlation analysis revealed that depression score was negatively correlated with the scores of job control (r=-0.236, P <0.01), reward (r=-0.443, P<0.01), job satisfaction (r=-0.418, P<0.01), positive affectivity (r=-0.307, P <0.01), superior support (r=-0.287, P<0.01), colleague support (r=-0.235, P<0.01), and coping strategy (r=-0.208, P<0.01), but positively correlated with the scores of external effort (r=0.225, P<0.01), inherent effort (r=0.248, P<0.01), psychological demands (r = 0.246, P <0.01), physical demands (r=0.246, P<0.01), and negative affectivity (r=0.525, P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of depressive symptoms in workers with high negative affectivity was about four times as high as that in workers with low negative affectivity. The risks of depressive symptoms in workers with low reward, having disease in the past six months, and with high inherent effort were 1.62, 1.50, and 1.48 times, respectively, as high as those for their counterparts., Conclusion: Occupational stress, individual factors, health status, and shift work affect the depressive symptoms of workers. Reducing negative affectivity and increasing rewards are main measures to relieve depressive symptoms.

Objective: To analyze the status of occupational stress in different types of train drivers., Methods: By using cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 339 train drivers (including 289 passenger train drivers, 637 freight trains drivers, 339 passenger shunting train drivers, and 74 high speed rail drivers) from a Railway Bureau depot. The survey included individual factors, occupational stress factors, stress response factors and stress mitigating factors. The occupational stress factors, stress response factors and mitigating factors were measured by the revised effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaires and occupational stress measurement scale. By using the method of covariance analysized the difference of occupational stress factors of all types train drivers, the method of Stepwise regression was used to analyze the effection (R(2)) of occupational stress factors and stress mitigating factors on stress response factors., Results: Covariance analysis as covariates in age, education level, length of service and marital status showed that the scores of ERI (1.58 ± 0.05), extrinsic effort (19.88 ± 0.44), rewards (23.43 ± 0.43), intrinsic effort (17.86 ± 0.36), physical environment (5.70 ± 0.22), social support (30.51 ± 0.88) and daily tension (10.27 ± 0.38 ) of high speed rail drivers were higher than other drivers (F values were 6.06, 11.32, 7.05, 13.25, 5.20, 9.48 and 6.14 respectively, P < 0.01), but the scores of emotional balance (4.15 ± 0.31) and positive emotion (2.06 ± 0.20) were lower than other drives (P < 0.01);the scores of psychological needs (10.48 ± 0.18), emotional balance (4.88 ± 0.16) and positive emotion (2.63 ± 0.10) of passenger train drivers were higher than other drivers (F values were 4.33 and 5.50 respectively, P < 0.01). The descending rank of the effect value on occupational stress factors and mitigating factors to depressive symptoms of train drivers was high speed rail drivers (R(2) = 0.64), passenger train drivers (R(2) = 0.44), passenger shunting train drivers (R(2) = 0.39), freight trains drivers (R(2) = 0.38); job satisfaction of train drivers was high speed rail drivers (R(2) = 0.68), passenger train drivers (R(2) = 0.62), freight trains drivers (R(2) = 0.43), passenger shunting train drivers(R(2) = 0.38); to daily tension of train drivers was high speed rail drivers (R(2) = 0.54), passenger train drivers (R(2) = 0.37), passenger shunting train drivers (R(2) = 0.33), freight trains drivers (R(2) = 0.30); emotional balance of train drivers was high speed rail drivers (R(2) = 0.47), passenger train drivers (R(2) = 0.43), passenger shunting train drivers (R(2) = 0.33), freight trains drivers(R(2) = 0.31)., Conclusion: ERI, psychological needs, work responsibilities, job roles, work conflict, and physical environment were important occupational stress factors of train drivers; social support was pivotal mitigating factors; different train drivers had different occupational stress status, high speed rail drivers were the highest, and freight trains drivers passenger train drivers or passenger shunting train drivers were the lowest.

Objective: To investigate the influential factors for the coping strategy for occupational stress among workers in thirteen enterprises., Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted in 6711 workers in 13 enterprises selected by cluster sampling from November 2008 to June 2009. Coping strategy, occupational stressors, stress response, and social support were measured using occupational stress instruments, job content questionnaire, and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire. The data from 5338 workers were statistically analyzed; the overall response rate was 79.6%., Results: The median coping strategy score was 26 (23-30) (P25∼P75). The coping strategy score of male workers (26.56±5.30) was significantly higher than that of female workers (26.07±5.37) (Z = 10.02, P < 0.01). Coping strategy score was the highest in managers (27.41±4.86) and the lowest in front-line workers (26.28±5.36), with a significant difference between the two groups (χ(2) = 5.38, P < 0.01). The coping strategy scores of workers with weekly job times of ≤40 h, 41-50 h, 51-59 h, and ≥ 60 h were 26.93±5.36, 26.72±5.11, 25.74±5.30, and 25.09±5.83, respectively (χ(2) = 22.12, P < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed that coping strategy score was positively correlated with decision level (r = 0.183, P < 0.01), reward (r = 0.207, P < 0.01), positive emotion (r = 0.244, P < 0.01), superior support (r = 0.176, P < 0.01), coworker support (r = 0.176, P < 0.01), and job satisfaction (r = 0.171, P < 0.01), but negatively correlated with psychological demands (r = -0.157, P < 0.01), physical demands (r = -0.099, P < 0.01), negative emotion (r = -0.093, P < 0.01), and depressive symptoms scores (r = -0.208, P < 0.01). Compared with those with middle or low coping strategy scores, workers with high coping strategy scores reported higher decision level, reward, social support, job satisfaction, and positive emotion scores (P < 0.01) but lower depressive symptom and negative emotion scores (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Enterprise type, individual factors, health status, and work time, have effects on the coping strategy for occupational stress of occupational stress.

Objective: To explore the effect of occupational stress and related factors to the mood of speed train drivers., Methods: By using cluster sampling method, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 1 352 speed train drivers (including 291 passenger train drivers, 640 freight trains drivers, 342 passenger shunting train drivers, and 79 High Speed Rail drivers) from a Railway Bureau depot. The survey included mood, individual factors, occupational stress factors, personality factors and mitigating factors. The mood status was evaluated by mood scale, and the occupational stress factors, personality factors and mitigating factors were measured by the revised effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model questionnaires and occupational stress measurement scale., Results: Correlation analysis showed that the mood score was negative correlated with age(r = -0.07, P = 0.01), working age (r = -0.07, P = 0.01), ERI(r = -0.53, P < 0.01), extrinsic effort(r = -0.41, P < 0.01), intrinsic effort(r = -0.39, P < 0.01), group conflict(r = -0.12, P < 0.01), role conflict(r = -0.16, P < 0.01), role ambiguity(r = -0.08, P < 0.01), and social support(r = -0.36, P < 0.01), and was positive correlated with rewards(r = 0.42, P < 0.01), self-esteem(r = 0.20, P < 0.01), and coping strategy(r = 0.12, P < 0.01). The mood scores of passenger train drivers, passenger shunting train drivers, freight train drivers and High Speed Rail drivers were 4.88 ± 2.78, 4.72 ± 2.50, 4.28 ± 2.57 and 4.12 ± 3.02, respectively, which the differences had statistical significance(F = 4.23, P = 0.01), unrelated to age and working age. The descending sort of mood corrected mean was passenger train drivers(4.87), passenger shunting train drivers (4.69), freight train drivers (4.29) , and High Speed Rail drivers (4.17). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that ERI, social support, rewards, intrinsic effort, self-esteem, extrinsic effort and coping strategy were the predictors, which could explain the 74.36% of total variance., Conclusion: Most occupational stress factors may cause negative mood, but rewards, self-esteem, social support and coping strategy were the protection factors of mood; different train drivers had different mood status, High Speed Rail drivers were the worst, and passenger train drivers were the best.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between emotion and plasma fibrinogen level in train crew., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 350 male workers of passenger car, freight car, shunting locomotive for passenger service, and high-speed car from a locomotive depot. The factors involved in this study were as follows: common factors including educational level, physical exercise, smoking, drinking, and physical environment, emotional/characteristic factors including sleep quality, depression, and coping strategies, and working -related factors including effort -reward imbalance, working age, responsibility for people, responsibility for work, intragroup conflicts, and intergroup conflicts. Variables were measured with common rating scales at home and abroad. Plasma fibrinogen level was determined by immunological turbidimetry. The Spearman rank correlation test and multiple stepwise regression were used to analyse the influential factors for fibrinogen level. The original concentration of fibrinogen was subjected to logarithmic transformation in statistical analysis., Results: The Spearman rank correlation test showed that plasma fibrinogen level was significantly correlated with age(r = 0.228, P = 0.001), working age(r = 0.231, P = 0.001), and emotion (r = -0.138, P = 0.016), but showed no significant relationship with other variables (P > 0.05). The multiple stepwise regression with fibrinogen level as a dependent variable was performed in four models. Model 1 showed that emotion and age were included in the regression after adjustment for common factors (P < 0.05). Model 2 also showed inclusion of emotion and age in the regression after adjustment for common factors and occupational stress factors (P < 0.05). Model 3 showed inclusion of emotion in the regression after adjustment for common factors, occupational stress factors, and psychological factors (P < 0.05). Model 4 showed inclusion of emotion and age after adjustment for common factors, occupational stress factors, psychological factors, and relief factors (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The emotion of train crew is correlated with plasma fibrinogen level.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between psychosocial job stress (by the Job Control-Demand (JCD) model and Effort-Reward imbalance (ERI) model) and musculoskeletal (MS) symptoms among workers in China. Overall, 3,632 male and 1,706 female workers from 13 factories/companies participated in this study. Perceived job stress was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and ERI Questionnaire. Neck, shoulder and wrist symptoms were assessed by self-report during the past year. Workers reporting high job demands and low job control or high effort and low rewards had moderately increased risk for all MS symptoms. Odds ratios (ORs) were higher in workers reporting both high effort and low rewards. The combination of high physical job demands with low job control showed significant associations with MS symptoms. The effects of psychological demands on symptoms in women, effort and effort-reward imbalance on symptoms among both genders were increased as the number of regions with symptoms increased. These results suggest that high job strain and ERI are associated with neck, shoulder and wrist symptoms in Chinese factory workers independent of individual factors, physical factors, and other psychological variables.

To investigate the effects of the job demand-control (DC) model and the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model on worker's well-being, self-reports for psychosocial work conditions and well-being were made by a sample of 878 workers at a thermal power plant in China using the main dimensions of DC and ERI questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were employed controlling for age, gender, and educational level, and negative and positive affection among others. Workers reporting high job demands and low job control or high efforts and low rewards had elevated risks of job dissatisfaction, psychosomatic complaints and depressive symptoms. Odds ratios were generally higher in workers reporting both high efforts and low rewards. Furthermore, low reward proved to be a stronger predictor of poor well-being when both job stress models were simultaneously adjusted. To some extent, interaction effects were found for social support, but no interaction effects were found for overcommitment. The findings indicate independent effects of both the DC model and the ERI model on well-being. Future work should explore the combined effects of these two models of psychosocial stress at work on health more thoroughly.