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A recent study conducted by researchers at CHU Quebec-Laval University in Canada has revealed worrying findings about the impact of job stress on men’s cardiovascular health.
According to this research, men who experience high levels of stress related to their work or face reward imbalances that they earn for their efforts have a significantly higher risk of developing coronary heart disease.
The study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, examined a cohort of 6,465 white-collar workers initially free of cardiovascular disease.
With an average age of 45 years, these participants provided valuable information for understanding the relationship between the work environment and heart health.
Risk factor’s
The research focused on two key work stressors: job tension and the imbalance between the effort made at work and the rewards obtained (IRE). Job tension is related to psychological demands and the level of control at work, while IRE covers aspects such as salary, promotion and job stability.
The results were clear in the case of men. Those who experienced job stress or an imbalance in rewards had a 49% risk greater risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to their colleagues who did not face these challenges at work. This increased risk is comparable to other lifestyle risk factors, such as obesity.
However, the alarm was raised when men were observed who faced both situations: job tension and imbalance in rewards. Their risk of coronary heart disease rose to 103%, a figure comparable to the risk associated with obesity.
These results remained robust even after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, psychosocial, personality factors, stressful life events, and biomedical and lifestyle factors. This reinforces the connection between work stress and cardiovascular health in men.
The mystery in women
However, in the case of women, the results were inconclusive. The confidence intervals were wide enough to encompass both protective and harmful effects.
This raises questions about the interaction of various stressors on women’s heart health and suggests the need for additional research in this area.
The findings of this study emphasize the importance of addressing psychosocial stressors at work from a comprehensive and interdisciplinary perspective.
The authors suggest that it is necessary to go beyond traditional approaches focused on modifying individual behaviors and develop prevention strategies. population-based that consider both the individual and their work environment.
We will be able to shed light on a critical aspect of occupational health and highlight the need to implement measures that reduce work stress and promote an appropriate balance between effort and rewards in the workplace. The well-being of workers and their cardiovascular health largely depend on the attention paid to these factors.
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