Workplace stressors and their association with hair cortisol concentrations among ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

IF 2.6 4区医学 Q2 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Occupational Health Pub Date : 2023-09-26 DOI:10.1002/1348-9585.12426

Annegret Dreher, Rita Yusuf, Hasan Ashraf, Syed A. K. Shifat Ahmed, Wei Gao, Christian Strümpell, Adrian Loerbroks

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Psychosocial working conditions of ready-made garment (RMG) workers have been associated with poorer self-reported health outcomes. However, no such research has been done with respect to physiological markers that are considered to reflect stress. We consequently aimed to investigate associations of psychosocial working conditions with such a marker, that is, hair cortisol, among RMG workers in Bangladesh.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews in labor colonies in the Mirpur area, Dhaka, Bangladesh, in February and March 2021 with individuals identifying as garment workers. The interview inquired after various workplace stressors and resources (i.e., workplace support, workplace bullying, vertical trust, beneficial leadership, work–family conflict, and financial issues including savings, debts, financial obligations, and financial support). In addition, hair samples of 2 cm length were collected from participants. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) were determined based on liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Linear regression models were run to detect possible associations of workplace stressors and resources with HCC.

Results

In total, data of 576 participants were included in the analysis (71.9% female, mean age = 25.9 years). Mean HCC was 4.4 pg/mg (standard deviation = 2.1 pg/mg). The sole variable significantly associated with increased HCC was “having to keep your job to support your children or spouse financially” (β = 0.28 [95% confidence interval 0.02–0.55]).

Conclusions

The sole workplace stressor significantly associated with increased HCC was the necessity to keep one's job to support children or spouse financially. This observation can, however, barely be disentangled from the fact that one has children/a spouse.

查看原文本刊更多论文

孟加拉国成衣工人的工作压力源及其与头发皮质醇浓度的关系：一项横断面研究。

目的：成衣（RMG）工人的心理社会工作条件与较差的自我报告健康结果有关。然而，对于被认为反映压力的生理标志物，还没有进行过这样的研究。因此，我们旨在调查孟加拉国RMG工人的心理社会工作条件与这种标记物（即头发皮质醇）的关系。方法：2021年2月和3月，我们在孟加拉国达卡米尔普尔地区的劳工聚居地对认定为服装工人的人进行了半结构化的面对面访谈。访谈询问了各种工作压力源和资源（即工作场所支持、工作场所欺凌、垂直信任、有益领导、工作与家庭冲突以及包括储蓄、债务、财务义务和财务支持在内的财务问题）。此外，2个头发样本从参与者身上收集cm长的样本。基于液相色谱-串联质谱法（LC-MS/MS）测定头发皮质醇浓度（HCC）。运行线性回归模型来检测工作场所压力源和资源与HCC的可能关联。结果：总共有576名参与者的数据被纳入分析（71.9%为女性，平均年龄 = 25.9 年）。平均HCC为4.4 pg/mg（标准偏差 = 2.1 pg/mg）。与HCC增加显著相关的唯一变量是“必须保住你的工作来在经济上支持你的孩子或配偶”（β = 0.28[95%置信区间0.02-0.55]）。结论：与HCC增加显著相关的唯一工作压力源是必须保持工作以在经济上支持子女或配偶。然而，这种观察几乎不能与一个人有孩子/配偶的事实相混淆。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Occupational Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

5.60

自引率

3.30%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： The scope of the journal is broad, covering toxicology, ergonomics, psychosocial factors and other relevant health issues of workers, with special emphasis on the current developments in occupational health. The JOH also accepts various methodologies that are relevant to investigation of occupational health risk factors and exposures, such as large-scale epidemiological studies, human studies employing biological techniques and fundamental experiments on animals, and also welcomes submissions concerning occupational health practices and related issues.