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. 2017 Apr 4;22(1):20.
doi: 10.1186/s12199-017-0641-8.

Potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress in Japanese novice nurses - a pilot study

Shinobu Okita  1 , Satoshi Daitoku  1 , Masaharu Abe  1 , Emi Arimura  1   2 , Hitoshi Setoyama  3 , Chihaya Koriyama  4 , Miharu Ushikai  1 , Hiroaki Kawaguchi  1 , Masahisa Horiuchi  5
Affiliations

Potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress in Japanese novice nurses - a pilot study

Shinobu Okita et al. Environ Health Prev Med. .

Abstract

Background: Occupational stress is a known factor behind employee resignations; thus, early identification of individuals prone to such stress is important. Accordingly, in this pilot study we evaluated potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress in Japanese novice nurses.

Methods: Forty-two female novice nurses at Kagoshima University Hospital were recruited for the study population. Each underwent physical health and urinary examinations, and completed a lifestyle questionnaire at the time of job entry. Each also completed a Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ), related to mental health status, at job entry and 5 months post-entry. Psychological stress, somatic symptoms, and combined BJSQ scores were determined for each time point.

Results: All three stress condition scores had significantly decreased at 5 months post-entry, suggesting occupational stress. Systolic blood pressure (r = -0.324, p < 0.05) and urinary sodium (r = -0.313, p < 0.05) were significantly negatively correlated with combined BJSQ score at 5 months post-entry. Post-entry stress condition scores were significantly low in subjects reporting substantial 1-year body weight change (≤ ± 3 kg) and short times between dinner and bedtimes (≤2 h), though baseline stress condition scores were not. Urinary sodium concentration, 1-year body weight change, and pre-sleep evening meals were then targeted for multivariate analysis, and confirmed as independent explanatory variables for post-entry stress condition scores.

Conclusions: One-year body weight change, times between dinner and bedtimes, and urinary sodium concentration are promising potential predictors of susceptibility to occupational stress, and should be further investigated in future research.

Trial registration: ISRCTN ISRCTN17516023. Retrospectively registered 7 December 2016.

Keywords: Body weight change; Brief job stress questionnaire; Employee turnover; Pre-employment health examinations; Urinary minerals.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study subjects selection and exclusion. The bold-bordered square indicates the entire initial population enrolled in the study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Psychological stress and somatic symptom condition score and combined Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) score between baseline and 5 months post-entry. Psychological stress condition score (a), somatic symptom condition score (b) and combined BJSQ score (c), and individual combined BJSQ scores (d) are shown for job entry (April, baseline) and 5 months post-entry (September). The data (a–c) are shown as maximum, 75%, median, 25%, and minimum as a boxplot. **p < 0.01 values was regarded as statistically significant in the Wilcoxon signed-rank test
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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