Job strain, social support in the workplace, and haemoglobin A1c in Japanese men
- N Kawakamia,
- K Akachib,
- H Shimizua,
- T Haratanic,
- F Kobayashid,
- M Ishizakie,
- T Hayashif,
- O Fujitag,
- Y Aizawah,
- S Miyazakii,
- H Hiroi,
- S Hashimotoj,
- S Arakik
- aDepartment of Public Health, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu 500–8705, Japan, bSanyo Electric Co, Japan, cNational Institute of Industrial Health, Japan Ministry of Labour, dDepartment of Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Japan, eHealth Care Center, Kanazawa Medical University, Japan, fHitachi Health Care Center, Japan, gDivision of Psychiatry, Kariya General Hospital, Japan, hDepartment of Hygiene and Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Japan, iNKK Corporation, Japan, jDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Nursing, University of Tokyo, Japan, kDepartment of Public Health and Occupational Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine
- Dr N Kawakami, Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8558, Japannorito{at}med.okayama-u.ac.jp
- Accepted 6 July 2000
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the association between job strain (defined in the model of job demands and job control) and social support at the workplace with levels of glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
METHODS All male employees aged 40–60 in a manufacturing firm, Japan, were invited to take part in the study. A blood sample was taken from the participants and HbA1c (%) was measured. Job strain and social support at the workplace were assessed with the job content questionnaire (JCQ). After excluding those who had a history of diabetes mellitus or other chronic diseases, data from 268 male day workers were analyzed.
RESULTS Age adjusted average concentrations of HbA1c were significantly higher in the highest quartile group of job strain or the lowest quartile group of social support at the workplace (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that job strain was significantly and positively related to HbA1c (p<0.05), whereas social support at the workplace was significantly and negatively related to HbA1c (p<0.05), both after controlling for other covariates.
CONCLUSIONS Greater job strain and lower social support at the workplace may be associated with increased concentrations of HbA1c. Increased blood glucose may be a physiological mediator between job strain or social support at the workplace and coronary heart disease.
