Abstract
Objective This study examined the effects of stressors at work and in family life on self-rated health and psychological well-being.
Methods The subjects were civil servants of T City (pop.210,000) aged 35 years and older. In February 1998, a questionnaire survey was conducted (response rate: 82.6%). The 1,364 responders comprised 971 men, including 143 firefighters, and 393 women. Participants. excluding firefighters, were categorized into two groups according to satisfaction with their job and their family life. In these two groups, the stressors at work and in the home was examined. Job demands-control-support score, type of work, job rank, family control and close friends were examined with the t-test, and sex, hobbies and age examined with the χ2 test. This was followed by covariance structure analysis of self-rated health and psychological well-being.
Results For the groups dissatisfied with work or family life, the score for jpb demands was higher, and the scores for job control, social support and close friends were lower. The scores for self-rated health and psychological well-being items were also significantly lower.
Covariance structure analysis demonstrated that factors at work had stronger effects. Regarding individual factors, job control, satisfaction with their job or family life and close friends had the greatest influence.
Conclusions Stressors at work and in family life result in lower self-rated health and psychological health. In particular, close friends and factors at work exert strongest effects on personal health. It is thus important for the prevention of stress-related diseases and the development of positive healthy life to reduce the work stressors and develop close friendships.
