JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, VOI. 15,177-183 (1994)

Research Aspects of psychological work environment Note and health among male and female white-

collar and blue-collar workers in a big Swedish industry IRMA WRIGHT Department of Health and Safety, AB Volvo, S-405 08 Gothenburg, Sweden

CALLE BENGTSSON Department of Primary Health Care, University of Goteborg, Gothenburg. Sweden

AND

KEN FRANKENBERG Institution for Social Work, University of Goteborg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Introduction

With a method, first used 13 years ago (Wright and Wallin, 1983; Wallin and Wright, 1986) and which has subsequently been revised, a health care team at Volvo in Gothenburg, Sweden, has investigated the work environment among a large number of employees. The work environ- ment is analysed from a holistic point of view. The analysis can be applied to an individual as well as to a group or a company. In this paper comparisons are made between different groups of employees: women with men, and blue-collar workers with white-collar workers.

Material

The participants were randomly selected white- and blue-collar workers from different companies within the Volvo group, who were examined during the period January 1987 to December 1991. The study population comprises 761 men and 377 women of whom 701 are white-collar workers and 437 blue-collar workers, 536 being 2 40 years of age and 602 below 40. Fifty-nine per cent have been employed in the company for more than 5 years.

Participation is voluntary, and 80-100 per cent of the employees invited in the different groups or companies have participated. They represent a cross-section of employees within the Volvo group. In all the groups men and women work side by side in similar jobs.

Methods Questionnaire and statistical analysis The questionnaires (containing four options) were originally fetched from a large survey concern- ing 10 OOO salariedemployees in Sweden (Wahlund and Nerell, 1976). During the years 1978-1981

CCC 0894-3796/94/02017747 0 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Received 14 December 1992 Accepted3 August 1993

178 RESEARCH NOTE

some further questions were added. The questionnaires contain 121 questions. In 1986 the questionnaire responses from 661 persons were analysed by means of factor analysis using the program ‘Factor’ which has been developed at the North Carolina Statistical Institute (SAS Institute Inc., 1982) and using oblique rotation. The aim of the analysis was to discover correla- tions between the various questions and to group them accordingly. The analysis covered five main areas: physical work environment, psychological stress, job satisfaction, medical symptoms and quality of life. A second analysis within each of these disclosed altogether 35 subfactors (Table l), two dealing with physical work environment, eight with psychological stress, 10 with job satisfaction, nine with medical symptoms and six with quality of life. The results of this factor analysis have been used as a norm (100 per cent), to which other results are related.

The hypothesis of no differences in proportions between different groups was tested with the chi2-test. P-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Description of total series Table 1 shows the mean values of the five main factors and the 35 subfactors in the norm group. The subfactors are given a maximum of four options. The quality of life factors have not been ranked as they do not belong to the work environment as such. The subfactor life satisfaction has been given seven options, and is therefore also not ranked.

Comparison between men and women at diferent ages (Figure 1 ) Physical work environment There is some difference between men and women in their experience of the physical work environment. As far as single questions are concerned (not shown in the figure), indoor climate and noise have many more negative remarks among women. Women above the age of 40 consider their physical work environment better than women below the age of 40; the same pattern was observed for older men compared with younger men.

Medical symptoms Medical symptoms are much more common among women than among men. There are striking differences when it comes to symptoms from the musculo-skeletal system. Thus 19 per cent of the women state that they have often and another 30 per cent sometimes lower back pain, whereas the figures for men are 11 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively. Fifty-seven per cent of the women and 35 per cent of the men report neck or shoulder pains. Pain in joints and muscles is reported by 45 per cent of women and 22 per cent of men. Complaints about tiredness and mental depression are much more common among women than among men. This is also the case with worry over health hazards.

Psychological stress About 60 per cent of the women and as many men feel that their jobs are psychologically stressful. Work load is our heaviest factor and has about the same load for men and women.

Job satisfaction Women are on the whole less satisfied than men. Women have fewer possibilities for development

RESEARCH NOTE 179

Table 1. Five main areas and 35 subfactors as recognized in the factor analysis carried out in 1986 on 661 employees, ranking number of these subfactors, and mean values of options

Ranking Standard Number of Main areas or subfactors number Mean value deviation items as base

Physical work environment Close work environment General work environment

Gastrointestinal symptoms Musculo-skeletal symptoms Psychological problems Sleeping problems Worry re health hazards Cardiovascular symptoms Other medical symptoms Smoking Alcohol

Psychological stress Work obstacles Incompatible demands Work regulated by staff Work regulated by routines Workload Involvement Stimulation Customers’ demands

Job satisfaction Pleasure in work Development opportunities Relations with boss Relations with work mates Relations within work group Influenceirecognition Tiredness/listlessness Changing jobs Righthitable education Training opportunities

Family/social life Economyhousing Leisure Work Physical activity

Total life satisfaction

Medical factors

Quality of life

5 23

6 15 24

2 16 21 13 5

17

27 14 20 22 29

7 18 19

1 26 10 9

11 8

28 3 4

12

2.75 2.89

3.41 3.17 2.97 3.61 3.16 3.04 3.19 3.41 3.07

2.70 3.18 3.04 2.99 2.45 3.38 3.07 3.07

3.71 2.71 3.29 3.33 3.29 3.34 2.61 3.51 3.51 3.26

3.51 3.45 3.30 3.18 2.72 5.57

0.52 0.48

0.49 0.74 0.56 0.52 0.88 0.87 0.59 0.96 0.45

0.67 0.58 0.73 0.78 0.63 0.40 0.66 0.86

0.55 0.63 0.79 0.66 0.79 0.53 0.62 0.84 0.81 0.78

0.50 0.48 0.46 0.59 0.44

1 1 5 6

29 I 4 6 3 1 1 5 1 1

23 4 3 2 2 4 3 3 2

22 1 2 2 2 2 4 2 3 1 1

15 2 4 2 3 3 I

within the company but also as persons. Women get less training within the company and feel more tired and listless than men. They have got much less influence and less recognition.

Total life satisfaction With regard to their total life situation women are, however, as satisfied as men. Physical activity is important for men, whereas family and social life plays a larger role for women.

80 90 A phyakd work environment I... . : \\

B GastrO-WIMinal symptoms ...... **I ....... 4 J M u s c u b a k e ~ l r y m p t m s ..... *** .,::::::; ~~ychobgiul pmblems **a ....... i S~~ .................... * +.::::.>1 WOW^ h l h hWrdS ........... *** Cardlovaacular symptoms ........ a * ~ ............ ---,

4: ......... Other medical symptoms

,.' Work regulated by stafl q.

Phpiul work environmenl2 ... a** i

........... -..:""....' e: :-

.......... .... ***

c **

Work regulated by routines ...... wofkw ...................................... \.'P Invdvemcmt .... it stbllulalion *** *:. \ Customers' demands ..>:> Deve s *** ...... '---

.... if *:... 1..

x '> ?2

t '

.............

................................. ..................................

................ D P h ........ ....., *

...... ....... Rdatlons wilh bow .................... * .......... RelatioM wlth work matea ........ Relations within work grwp ..... lnfluencahqnlim +*II nredlle/l*leMness *** chmlghg pbs Rlghtkuitable education ..... b-' ............... -... s Tmhing opportunities .......... L.iwre .........................................

... .... .................

............... .*.. ' ............................ ...........

............................................. E W M k

**a <.."-.. a** e,"r.cb::''

...... %

80 90

Comparison between white-collar and blue-collar workers A comparison between white- and blue-collar workers is shown in Figures 2 and 3. Among blue-collar workers, when compared with white-collar workers we note the following significant differences:

more complaints about the physical work environment; more worry re health hazards, mainly of ergonomic nature; more symptoms from the musculo-skeletal system; more skin troubles; more mental symptoms; less stimulation and involvement, more monotonous work; fewer customer demands; less pleasure in work; fewer training opportunities, more inadequate education and fewer possibilities for develop- ment; less influence on one's job; less tiredness and listlessness; greater tendency to change jobs;

100 110

.>:, .'... I ..* ,'....

:;>.

- *'

.' 100 110

RESEARCH NOTE 181

80 90 A PhyskalwMkOnvirDnnMnt l . . . .+ec ..a.

... .< Phy8kd wMk environment 2

Prychorooical FcWMls * *. i

W ~ r e l u r t h h u u d c ........... *** *.....-. C.rdivssar*r ejm-a ........ OMer rnedhl rymploms ......... *

........ ......

B OIAm-intrHrul F F p o m s ...... * . MwcubslolcdalaymDlwns ..... .......... SbqklgprOMnu ** .......... .*

............ :;, ...........

....................

3 ( .

...+' Incompotlbb demands ............ work Iegulded by sufl ............. Wcik regulated by rourinea yy* ... wolkkw ...................................... *** ,--%

................................ ..... SC Inwkdnant *** ........ s l m u a i *** ...........

-: 2-s cust-*daands *** Lkv&pmenl oppoRunlW ...... *** ......... I RewimswNhbou Rel4Ons VMl wMk matm ........ ............. Rel4tionrMmwotkg row..... InnumWm+lii **. ............... TiredneMIIa- ............... *** 2 ChanQhQW ...- FIbhthuiWbed~tion .......... at*

wwe ......................................... a;. m-1

P"' Farnitykeal Ib

TMIiia .... -.

5 * p

...... *.

.................................. .............. .......- -...

' I

........... . D Plerwninwak ........................ *** . ,....

....................

......

...... ................. .. .. ......... ............................ *** ............... .... ........................................... E work *** ......... Trninii opportunities I.**

.. .......................... ........................ ........ €canom- ...................... *** *:.. c:

................................... * 80 90

100 110

-.-' q;

--. *

,\ -.- 'p"

- * -=

:* : ........ :::.

8'- .........

;%

i '>." >

I\, :> .-

loo 110

poorer fit between oneself and one's job; less satisfaction with the total life situation, particularly work and economy.

Discussion

Investigations of psychological work environment factors and their impact on health have been given increased attention for the past 15 years. The factors that throughout literature turn out to be most important are work regulations and influence over one's own job (autonomy), social support or isolation at work, quantitative and qualitative overload and underload and fit between worker and job (Frankenhaeuser and Gardell, 1976; Gardell, 1976; Levi, Franken- hauser and Gardell, 1981; Levi, 1984; Chemers, Hays, Rhodewalt and Wysocki, 1985; Karasek, 1990). This paper concentrates upon psychological factors and health as experienced by large groups of employees within the Volvo companies (Volvo).

There are some obvious differences when comparing men and women. On the whole, women report more symptoms, which is in agreement with results from population studies (Tibblin, Bengtsson, Furunes and Lapidus, 1990), but women also experience less stimulation, fewer

182 RESEARCH NOTE

Female white- and blue-collar workers ----- white-collar workers (N = 251) ........ blue-collar workers (N = 126)

Negative POMW 70 80 90 100 110

A Physical work environment l... ....'\ phyaical work environment 2 ... * .:. #

........... :+' Musculo-skeletal SymptOmS ..... * .,::.....' c: - P~ychologogical problems ........... .. .

.................... --%. Sleeping problems .............. -2-9-

Cardiovascular symptoms .......... .<>*

B Gaalr0-lntealinal sympicms ...... .......... ....>

.-%::: .......... :-<:.*. Wow re health hazards ........... * Cnher medical symptoms Smoking ...................................... * Alcohol ....................................... ***

c workobstacles .......................... *** Incompatible demands ........... *** Work regulated by staR w* : Work regulated by routines *** ! Workload ................................ .... Involvement ............................ ......... ,a

Stimulation ............................... 4.. ..... <,. Custcmers'demands ................ ++.c >

...........A. D Pleasure in work ....................... .......... /

Development OpportunitI8S ...... t** '-. Relations w%h boss .... - Relations with work mates ..2'

..... ....... -5' Influencdrecognition I** ............. ' Tirednesdlistlessness ............... *.;? Changing Jobs .......................... ./.- \. RighVsultable eduC8tbfl ........... *** ............

E Work .......................................... 3 ............................. Leisure ..:, Phpical activii .......................... *:..... Ewncmyhousing ..... ... *.

........ %.*.:.:

............. ......

.. i::::::::::... ............. ................. ... ........ ... /.. ... I

Relations within work group ................

Training opportunities ............... * t* .......... :.. ......... .........................................

...................... ;.s Famihl/soc!al lile

Tola1 life ................................. ....... ......................

.'i ........ ,.' ......

,...*. .... I..

..... ..... ........I.

........ ....... .-

> c

70 80 90 100 110

Figure 3. Mean options (per cent) in female white-collar and blue-collar workers in relation to the norm (100 per cent) for 35 defined subfactors studied; *p<O.O5, **p<O.OI, ***p<O.OOI, female white-collar workers compared with female blue-collar workers; A = physical work environment, B = medical factors,

C = psychological stress, D = job satisfaction, E = quality of life.

development and training opportunities and less influence and recognition. Female blue-collar workers have the worst situation.

Are the jobs as such a cause of ill-health and increased worry over health hazards? It may be possible that, as dissatisfaction increases and the stress level rises, one pays in the form of diminished resistance to pain (headache, eye strain, musculo-skeletal symptoms) and increased psychosomatic symptoms.

As Volvo consists of a large number of different companies, and since the workforce examined represents a multitude of trades and occupations, there is reason to believe that our findings are representative of employees within the private sector in Sweden - and probably also of most other industrialized countries.

References Chemers, M. M., Hays, R. B., Rhodewalt, F. and Wysocki, J. (1985). 'A person+nvironment analysis

ofjob stress: a contingency model explanation', Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49,628-635. Frankenhaeuser, M. and Gardell, B. (1976). 'Underload and overload in working life: outline of a multidis-

ciplinary approach', Journal of Human Stress, 2,3546. Gardell, B. (1976). Arbetsinnehdll och iivskvalitet. (Job Content and Quality of Life), Prisma, Stockholm.

RESEARCH NOTE 183

Karasek, R. (1990). ‘Lower health risk with increased job control among white-collar workers’, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 11,171-185.

Levi, L. (1984). ‘Work, stress and health’, Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 10, 495-500.

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