CHANDOLA ET AL (2008) Flashcards
What did Chandola et al (2008) proprose?
- Work can act as a major cause of stress and lead to increase likelihood of developing stress related illnesses such as CHD.
What was the aim of Chandola et al (2008) study?
To investigate the link between workplace stress and CHD.
What method did Chandola et al (2008) use?
- Longitudinal study (lasted from 1985-2004)
- Where: london UK
Describe the sample of Chandola et al (2008) study?
- 10,000 male & female civil severants in London
Summarise/ explain the procedure of Chandola et al (2008)?
The procedure involved 7 phases in total
* Questionnaire: The ppts were given (job-strain) postal questionnaires to measure work stress.
* Clinical examination: During alternative phases.
* Job-strain: Work stress was assessed via the questionnaire. Total job strain was based on total number of instances of job strain or iso-strain. Job strain was recorded as when ppts reported job demands as high and job control as low. Iso(lation)-stress was recorded when job strain was reported alongside social isolation at work.
Social isolation- unsupportive collegues
Summarise the results in terms of age?
- (for those 50 and older) there was little correlation between work stress and CHD incidents.
- (for those 37-49) there was a significant correlation betwene higher reports of work stress and CHD incidents.
- (for the younger aged group) there was a correlation between greater work stress and poorer health behaviours/ choice (perhaps coping mechanism).
What were the results explaining the link between work stress and CHD?
- 32% of the correlation between work stress and CHD is because stress leads to unhealthy habits.
- The remaining 68% of the link is likely due to direct effects of stress on the body (like higher blood pressure, hormonal changes, etc.), not just bad habits.
Stress had either a direct or indirect effect leading to illness
What was the conclusion of Chandola et al (2008)?
For those under 50, work stress is a significant indicator of CHD events. Thus is partly due to an increase in unhealthy behaviors but also due to physiological changes (increased cortisol and higher blood pressure).
Name 1 strength and 1 weakness of Chandola et al (2008) study?
- Strength- longitudinal method (tracked ppts for nearly 20 yeas) allows researchers to closely observe how long term exposure to work stress can influence the development of CHD. (also allows enough time for CHD to develop-crucial)
- Weakness- correlational research- it can’t prove causation. Other unseen factors (e.g., genetics, personality) might influence both stress levels and heart health.
