Building- and Work- Related Symptoms (BWRS) A Multivariate Exploratory Study of Office Environments

Abstract

We compared the work environment in different kinds of offices in Argentina and in Sweden. It was hypothesised that symptoms of discomfort would have multiple causes related to the physical conditions of the building and the psychosocial climate of the work force. It was further hypothesised that these responses would be influenced by the age, gender and cultural background of the office workers. Questionnaires were administered to the personnel during the morning in the middle of the working week. Measurements of lighting, temperature, humidity, and noise were carried out at the same occasion. The results showed that the Swedish offices were more illuminated, and that the Argentinean offices were noisier, comparatively speaking. Subjective reports of complaints were more prevalent in Argentina than in Sweden, and there were also more building-and-work-related symptoms in Argentina than in Sweden. However, the prevalence of BWRS was not only related to the physical environment, but also to the psychosocial climate. High values in social intensity and in familiarity seemed to reduce the symptoms.