Documents Torgén, Margareta 3 results

"Objective This study investigates changes in self-reported and expert-evaluated physical work loads between 1970 and 1993 in relation to calendar year, birth cohort, and gender in an urban and suburban population sample (232 men and 252 women) born between 1935 and 1952.Methods A self-administered questionnaire was answered in 1993 concerning different aspects of physical work loads between 1970 and 1993. With the use of a classification matrix, the objective physical work load on different body regions was also assessed.Results Between 1970 and 1993 the fraction of subjects in blue-collar occupations and the physical work loads decreased among the men, but they both increased among the women. Physical work loads were, in general, higher among the men than among the women at younger ages (below 30 years), but less so at higher ages. Expert evaluations of the musculoskeletal load showed a Pattern similar to that of self-reported work loads.Conclusion The gender difference in work load development with age may have implications for the development of musculoskeletal disorders."

"Burnout is assumed to occur after unsuccessful self-esteem strivings, activated and maintained by enduring or recurring stressors in central life domains and roles. People high in performance-based self-esteem are vulnerable to such strivings and a scale for performance-based self-esteem, the Pbse scale, has been developed. Data from this scale is presented for a total of 17,177 persons from four studies, three of which were based on nationally representative samples of adult Swedes. The Pbse scale showed satisfactory psychometric properties with similar outcomes in the four samples, and the scale also showed convergent validity. These results are commented on and it is discussed whether or not performance-based self-esteem has increased in Western countries in recent decades. The self-esteem striving approach to burnout seems to have merits both from theoretical and preventive perspectives."

Background In 1969 a population-based study was conducted in the Stockholm region. From the 2,579 randomly selected participants (18-65 years of age in 1969), the youngest subset were asked to participate in a reexamination in 1993. Information regarding working conditions, conditions outside work, and neck and shoulder disorders was collected retrospectively for the period 1970-1993. Methods Of 783 eligible subjects (42-59 years of age in 1993), 484 responded. Cases of neck/shoulder disorders were defined by past sickleave or medical attention or recent symptoms, depending on available information. For each case (n = 271) two controls were randomly selected, matched by age and gender. Variables regarding both physical and psychosocial conditions were included in the matched analyses. Results Among women mainly psychosocial factors and among men mainly physical factors were associated with neck/shoulder disorders. The only gender common risk indicator found was repetitive hand work (OR 1.5). Interactive effects were also observed. Conclusions The impact on neck/shoulder disorders from separate factors was moderate but combinations of physical and psychosocial factors, as well as of work-related and non-work-related factors, produced relative risks above 2.