Self-perceived stress reactivity is an indicator of psychosocial impairment at the workplace

Background: Work related stress is associated with a range of
debilitating health outcomes. However, no unanimously accepted
assessment tool exists for the early identification of individuals
suffering from chronic job stress. The psychological concept of
self-perceived stress reactivity refers to the individual
disposition of a person to answer stressors with immediate as well
as long lasting stress reactions, and it could be a valid indicator
of current as well as prospective adverse health outcomes. The aim
of this study was to determine the extent to which perceived stress
reactivity correlates with various parameters of psychosocial
health, cardiovascular risk factors, and parameters of chronic
stress and job stress in a sample of middle-aged industrial
employees in a so-called "sandwich-position". Methods: In this
cross-sectional study, a total of 174 industrial employees were
assessed for psychosocial and biological stress parameters.
Differences between groups with high and low stress reactivity were
analysed. Logistic regression models were applied to identify which
parameters allow to predict perceived high versus low stress
reactivity. Results: In our sample various parameters of
psychosocial stress like chronic stress and effort-reward imbalance
were significantly increased in comparison to the normal
population. Compared to employees with perceived low stress
reactivity, those with perceived high stress reactivity showed
poorer results in health-related complaints, depression, anxiety,
sports behaviour, chronic stress, and effort-reward imbalance. The
educational status of employees with perceived low stress
reactivity is higher. Education, cardiovascular complaints, chronic
stress, and effort-reward imbalance were moderate predictors for
perceived stress reactivity. However, no relationship was found
between stress reactivity and cardiovascular risk factors in our
sample. Conclusions: Job stress is a major burden in a relevant
subgroup of industrial employees in a middle management position.
Self-perceived stress reactivity seems to be an appropriate concept
to identify employees who experience psychosocial stress and
associated psychological problems at the workplace.