Correlation of sociodemographic variables and interpersonal  sources of stress at work among miners

Ljiljana Kulić; Milivoje  Galjak; Jovana  Jovanović

doi:10.2298/VSP170708030K

Ljiljana Kulić University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Milivoje Galjak University of Priština/Kosovska Mitrovica, Faculty of Medicine, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Jovana Jovanović University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Niš, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/VSP170708030K

Keywords: miners, sociological factors, interpersonal relations, stress, psychological, risk factors, occupational exposure, surveys and questionaires

Abstract

Abstract

Background/Aim. Some professions are somewhat more exposed to stress and have been the subject of research for a long time, and research of occupational stress among employees at workplaces with a special health risk is of a special significance. That is the case with miners. The aim of the study was an assessment of the relation between the sociodemographic variables and interpersonal sources of stress at work among miners. Methods. The study was designed as a cross-sectional study and covered 170 respondents, classified into two groups: a study group comprised of miners (n = 142) and a control group (n = 28) comprised of administrative workers. The research was conducted at the Occupational Medicine Service of the Health Center Zvečan and at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Niš. The questionnaire on the basic sociodemographic indicators of respondents, the Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Related Stressors Questionnaire (IRS), the Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAI), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the Questionnaire on the stressors were used in this research. Results. Statistically, the miners consumed alcohol significantly more than the respondents from the control group (68.30% vs. 25.00%; p < 0.001). Relative to age, there was a statistically significant difference in the subscales: demands (p = 0.037), control (p = 0.010), relations (p = 0.009) and change (p = 0.008). The control score values increased with age. The relations values were highest among the oldest respondents. The values of change decreased with age. Relative to exposed years of service (ERS), there was a statistically significant difference in the subscale relations; the miners with ERS longer than 15 years had a statistically significantly higher relations score (p = 0.003). The values of subscales control (p < 0.001), manager support (p = 0.010), relations (p < 0.001) and work role (p < 0.001) were statistically significantly lower among the miners compared to the control group. The values of subscales peer support (p = 0.002) and change (p < 0.001) were statistically significantly higher among the miners compared to the control group. Conclusion. The results indicate the correlation of sociodemographic variables with interpersonal sources of stress at work among the miners.The following prevention measures are proposed: adequate professional orientation, professional selection, professional adaptation, organizational measures, progressive development of knowledge and skills, development of good interpersonal relationships, strengthening the family-organization-company relation, relaxation techniques at the workplace, stress control, application of physiological techniques, application of cognitive techniques.

References

REFERENCES

Dmitrović I, Grubić-Nešić L. Stress and stressors in the working enviroment. Novi Sad: Zbornik radova Fakulteta tehničkih nauka; XXVI, 2011; 9/11.

Lojić R. Stress management and mobbing prevention. Bel-grade: Vojni glasnik; 2010. (Serbian)

Mihailović D. Psychology in organization. Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences; 2008. (Ser-bian)

Babić B. The stress and consequences of stress at work Bel-grade: Vojno delo; 2011. p. 329–45. (Serbian)

Milczarek M, Schneider E, Gonzalez ER. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, European risk observatory report, OSH in figures: Stress at work - facts and figures. Luxem-bourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities; 2009.

Karasek RA, Theorell TGT, Schwartz J, Pieper C, Alfredsson L. Job, psychological factors and coronary heart disease, Swedish prospective findings and US prevalence findings using a new occupational inference method. Adv Cardiol 1982; 29: 62–7.

Karasek RA, Theorell T, Schwartz JE, Schnall PL, Pieper CF, Michela JL. Job characteristics in relation to the prevalence of myocardial infarction in the US Health Examination Survey (HES) and the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES). Am J Public Health 1988; 78(8): 910–8.

Aasland OG, Olff M, Falkum E, Schweder T, Ursin H. Health complaints and job stress in Norwegian physicians: The use of an overlapping questionnaire design. Soc Sci Med 1997; 45(11): 1615–29.

Snelgrove SR. Occupational stress and job satisfaction: a com-parative study of health visitors, district nurses and community psychiatric nurses. J Nurs Manag 1998; 6(2): 97–104.

Visser MR, Smits EM, Oort FJ, de Haes MG. Stress, satisfac-tion and burnout among Dutch medical specialist. CMAJ 2003; 168(3): 271–85.

Chong A, Killeen O, Clarke T. Work-related stress among paediatric non consultant hospital doctors. Ir Med J 2004; 97(7): 203–5 ; discussion 205.

Pavičević L, Bobić J. Stress at work In: Šarić M, Žuškin E, editors. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Zagreb: Medicina rada i okoliša; 2002. p. 530–7. (Croatian)

Levi L, Sauter SL, Shimomitsu T. Work-related stress-it's time to act. J Occup Health Psychol 1999; 4(4): 394–6.

Finset KB, Gude T, Hem E, Tyssen R, Ekeberg O, Vaglum P. Which young physicians are satisfied with their work? A pros-pective nationwide study in Norway. BMC Med Educ 2005; 5(1): 19.

Elfering A, Grebner S, Semmer NK, Gerber H. Time control, catecholamines and back pain among young nurses. Scand J Work Environ Health 2002; 28(6): 386–93.

Stafyla A, Spyridis N. Gender differences in work stress, related to organizational conflicts and organizational constraints: An empirical research. Int J Econ Sci Appl Res 2013; 6(1): 91–101.

Weyman AK, Clarke DD. Investigating the influence of organi-zational role on perceptions of risk in deep coal mines. J Appl Psychol 2003; 88(3): 404–12.

Barger LK, Cade BE, Ayas NT, Cronin JW, Rosner B, Speizer FE, et al. Extended Work Shifts and the Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes among Interns. N Engl J Med 2005; 352(2): 125–34.

Edwards A. Workplace stress in South African mineworkers. In: INRS Occupational Health Research Conference2012: Health risks associated with mixed exposures. South Africa, Brummeria, Pretoria: Centre for Mining Innovation, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; 2012.

Philibert I. Sleep Loss and Performance in Residents and Non-physicians: A Meta-Analytic Examination. Sleep 2005; 28(11): 1392–402.

Boscolo P. Effects of occupational stress and job insecurity on the immune response. G Ital Med Lav Ergon 2009; 31(3): 277–80. (Italian)

Kishore K, Khan NA. A Report on GIT Disorders and Related Complications in Coal Miners of Shaktinagar, Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh. Arch Appl Sci Res 2010; 2(3): 231–7.

Stefanović V, Jovanović J, Jovanović M. The influence of occupa-tional stress on the lipid status of drivers in road traffic. Med Pregl 2010; 63(1–2): 57–61. (Serbian)

Veličković D, Mladenović P, Jovanović J. Professional stressors in public enterprises Profesionalni stresori u javnim preduzećima. Stud Med Glas 2010; 1(1): 1–5.