Abstract
Epidemiological evidence of physical correlates of stress for midlevel workers threatened by organizational restructuring, reorganization, and downsizing was obtained for seamen in the U. S. merchant fleet, an industry which has lost 75% of its jobs in a working lifetime. Illness reports of 22,763 seamen were analyzed to ascertain the relationship between job-related and situational stress factors and the occurrence of eight stress-related diseases (cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart attack, psychoneurosis, suicide, peptic ulcer-gastritis, arthritis, and asthma). Rank difference was revealed as the primary determinant of disease occurrence rate. The licensed group, midlevel managers in both deck and engine departments, showed a significantly higher percentage of stress related illness than did the unlicensed group. Licensed deck personnel showed higher rates of cardiovascular disease, heart attack, psychoneurosis, suicide, and asthma. Licensed engine personnel showed higher rates of heart attack and asthma. Explanations for high stress levels among licensed personnel center around declining job opportunity due to downsizing and end-of-career anxiety. Other factors include the burdens of supervisory responsibility in an era of eroding management authority, accommodation to technological and situational change, and general aging of the merchant marine workforce.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Biorck, G., Blomquist, G., & Sievers, J. (1958). Studies on myocardial infarction in Malmo, 1935–1952. II. Infarction rate by occupational group.Acta Med. Scandinav.161, 21–32.
Friedman, M., & Rosenman, R. H. (1959). Association of overt behavior patterns with blood and cardiovascular findings.J. A. M. A., 169, 1286–1296.
Gross, E. (1970). Work, organization, and stress. In S. Levine & N. Scotch (Eds.),Social stress. Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co.
International classification of diseases (Eighth Revision). (1965). Pub. No. 1693, Washington, D.C.: U. S. Public Health Service.
Kahn, R. L., & French, J. R. (1970). Status and conflict: Two themes in the study of stress. In J. McGrath (Ed.),Social and psychological factors in stress. New York: Holt, Reinhart, and Winston.
Kasl, S. V., & French, J. R. (1962). The effects of occupational status on mental health.Journal of Social Issues, 18(3), 67–69.
Milletti, M. A. (1984).Voices of experience: 1500 retired people talk about retirement. New York: TIAA/CREF Educational Research Unit.
Schwimmer, M. J. (1974).Profile of the deep sea merchant marine officer. National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point, NY, Washington, D.C.: Maritime Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Schwimmer, M. J., & Zeitlin, L. R. (1971).Environmental analysis: A framework for improving efficiency of maritime personnel. National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point, NY, Washington, D.C.: Maritime Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Vroom, V. H. (1964).Work and motivation. New York: Wiley and Sons.
Zeitlin, L. R. (1975). Human Error in Maritime Casualty and Near Casualty. Report of the NAS Panel on Human Error in Maritime Casualty, Marine Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Zeitlin, L. R. (1978). Occupational stress and illness. InInjuries and illnesses on U.S. ships. (NMRC-KP-193). National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point, NY, Washington, D.C.: Maritime Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Zeitlin, L. R., & Hart, R. (1977).Injuries and illness on U.S. ships: Analysis of illness and injury trends in the U.S. merchant marine from 1951 through 1973 (NMRC-KP-176), National Maritime Research Center, Kings Point, NY, Washington, DC: Maritime Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zeitlin, L.R. Organizational downsizing and stress-related illness. Int J Stress Manage 2, 207–219 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01681850
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01681850