Relations between environmental problems,psychology and health among shift-workers in the Norwegian process industry

Abstract

A group of 89 male shift-workers, mean age 38 years, was examined for health complaints, subjective experience of their work environment, psychological defence strategies, and immunological factors. They worked in a process industry, controlling a complex chemical process partly by instruments and partly by direct checking of mechanical devices such as valves. Shifts were eight hours long and changed every second week.

The main problem areas identified were problems with the management, colleagues and superiors, feelings of being under-valued, time pressure, fear of making mistakes, and lack of influence and communication. The main health complaints were sleep disturbance and gastro-intestinal problems. Shift workers also complained about allergies, breathing difficulties, tension, anxiety and depression. There were no pathological levels of plasma immunoglobulins (Ig) or Ig complements. However, levels did correlate with experience of work-related problems and with measures of defence mechanisms. Up to 25% of the variance in die immunological indicators was explained by a combination of defence mechanism scores and those of perceived health and work problems. This suggests that immunoglobulins may be an indicator of work-related health risks (‘stress’), even if the level of explained variance is too low to use immunoglobulins alone as a ‘marker’. The same variables, and immunoglobulins, also related significantly to perceived health. This may be a particularly important indicator, and when combined with immunology and psychological variables, also as a risk factor for organic disease.