A Cross - Sectional Analysis of The Association of Job Strain with Metabolic Syndrome and 10-Year Risk of Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract

Objective: Beside the well-established biological and behavioral risk factors, psychosocial factors have been accepted as important risk factorsfor coronary heart diseases (CHD). While there is abundant evidence for the association between job strain and CHD in developed countries,more research needed on this association in developing countries. This study aims to examine the association between job strain and the riskof CHD and metabolic syndrome among the 30–64-year-old employed individuals.Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional study. The study sample was derived randomly from the employed individuals agedbetween 30 and 64 participated in baseline Balcova Heart Study. Karasek’s demand-control-support questionnaire was applied to measurejob strain. Presence of metabolic syndrome and Framingham risk score were main dependent variables. 191 female and 216 male participantswere included in the analyses. Pearson chi-square test, ANCOVA and logistic regression analyses were used.Results: Women were found to have higher education levels, have more white-collar jobs, and have better economic status perception thanmen. 20% of men and 18% of women have been working in high-strain jobs. There was significant association of job strain with neither theFramingham risk score nor metabolic syndrome. The adjustments for education, age, and occupation did not alter the results. The interactionbetween the social support and job strain was also not significant.Conclusion: Job strain did not have an impact on both the Framingham risk score and metabolic syndrome. Although psychosocial factors areknown as important risk factors for CHD in developed countries, the evidence in developing countries is scarce.