Key result
Organizational instability, including expansion and downsizing, was associated with higher job strain (p<0.001) and elevated cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol and triglycerides (p<0.05).
Why the study?
Does organizational instability at the workplace increase cardiovascular risk factors in white-collar employees?
Cross-Sectional (n=3,904)
Yes
Does organizational instability at the workplace increase cardiovascular risk factors in white-collar employees?
Organizational instability, including both downsizing and expansion, is associated with adverse cardiovascular risk profiles and increased job strain among white-collar employees.
Should not yet change workplace or clinical practice; leaves open causality and need for longitudinal confirmation.
BACKGROUND: The economic crisis in Sweden in the 1990s led to major reorganization at many workplaces, which appears to have had negative consequences for occupational and public health. METHODS: Psychosocial questionnaires and medical screening data for 3,904 white-collar employees in 15 major companies plus a large number of small-scale entrepreneurs in Stockholm were used. Subjects were part of a study of working conditions and cardiovascular risk factors (WOLF). Workplaces were categorized using interview data from managers and union representatives. Categories were compared regarding job strain, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen among employees. RESULTS: The companies formed five categories: 'Stable', 'Changing/Growing', 'Threatened Private', 'Questioned Public', plus 'Small Firms'. Compared with the 'Stable' group, employees in 'Changing/Growing' companies had higher job strain (0.28 SD, p<0.001). In the 'Threatened Private' group, job strain (0.30 SD, p<0.001), cholesterol (0.18 mmol/l, p<0.05) and triglycerides (0.09 mmol/l, p<0.05) were elevated. The 'Questioned Public' group had higher cholesterol (0.22 mmol/l, p<0.01), triglycerides (0.10 mmol/l, p<0.01) and fibrinogen (0.13 mmol/l, p<0.05). In 'Small Firms', job strain (0.30 SD, p<0.001), cholesterol (0.28 mmol/l, p<0.001), triglycerides (0.14 mmol/l, p<0.001) and fibrinogen (0.19 mmol/l, p<0.001) were elevated. With the exception of lower systolic blood pressure (2.1 mmHg; p<0.05) in the 'Changing/Growing' category, there were no significant differences in blood pressure between the groups. CONCLUSION: In addition to traditional measures of organizational instability, such as downsizing, expansion in a favourable economic climate, appears to be adversely correlated with job strain and psychophysiology. The study also raises concerns about employees in small firms.
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Hugo Westerlund (2004) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular risk factors (n=3,904). Organizational instability (workplace categories) vs. Stable workplace category was evaluated on Job strain, blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and fibrinogen. Organizational instability, including expansion and downsizing, was associated with higher job strain (p<0.001) and elevated cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol and triglycerides (p<0.05).
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