Johansson

Question 0

Method

Answer 0

Quasi experiment where workers were defined as being at high risk of stress or in a control group

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate whether work stressors such as repetitiveness, machine-regulated pace of work and high levels of responsibility increase stress- related physiological arousal and stress related illness

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

24 workers at Swedish sawmill, high risk group 14 work at set pace , control group 10 workers who were cleaners

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

High risk group - job was to finish off the wood off at the last stage of processing timber. Work was machine paced , isolated , very repetitive yet highly skilled, finishers productivity determined wage rates for entire factory. 14 finishers compared to low risk group of 10 cleaners , who work whose work was more varied, largely self paced , and allowed more socialising with other workers

Question 4

Data collection

Answer 4

Levels of stress-related hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline) in the urine were measured on work days and rest days. Records were kept of stress related illness and absenteeism. Self reports used about their Mood and alertness and caffeine and nicotine consumptions were recorded

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

High risk group of 14 finishers secreted twice stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline) on work days than on rest days , and higher levels than the control group. The high risk group of finishers also showed significantly higher levels of stress-related illness such as headaches and higher levels of absenteeism than the Low risk group of cleaners

Question 6

Conclusions

Answer 6

A combination of work stressors especially receptiveness machine pacing of work and high levels of responsibility- lead to chronic (long term) physiological arousal. This in turn leads to stress related illness and absenteeism