Endometriosis - The challenge for occupational life of diagnosed women: A review of quantitative studies.

The aim of the article was to summarize the results offered in the research on occupational functioning of women with endometriosis. We followed PRISMA guidelines. Database search was done in November 2017 using EBSCO. In the review were included the articles clearly referring to the relationships between endometriosis and work or any aspect of work (e.g., work productivity, work ability, absenteeism). Eight papers were included in the final review. Seven studies were cross-sectional, 1 retrospective. The majority of researchers used standardized research measures, such as Work Ability Index, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire or Health Related Productivity Questionnaire. Only in 2 studies the reference group was considered, one of them consisted of healthy women. The results clearly indicate that endometriosis is a disease that causes major disturbance in occupational functioning of the suffering women. In the future the researchers should search for individual and organizational correlates of the improvement of occupational functioning in this group of patients. The methodology of the existing studies has been evaluated and the methodological cues for future research has been given. Med Pr 2018;69(6):663-671.

[Occupational stress and psychosocial risk among journalists]. / Stres zawodowy a ryzyko psychospoleczne w grupie dziennikarzy.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic stress symptoms in journalists are well known but chronic occupational stress in this professional group is still to be elucidated. This study aimed at answering the following questions: (1) which of psychosocial risks (PRs) are most frequently reported as stressogenic in journalists, (2) are there any differences in exposure to PRs and their stressfulness between journalists and other professional groups, (3) what relationships occur between PR categories of stressfulness and their consequences for employees' functioning in the job, and (4) what is the risk of negative consequences of stress (health deterioration and worse job performance). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Psychosocial Risk Scale was used to investigate general and specific PRs at work and the stressfulness of particular PRs. A group of 211 journalists working in Polish newspapers, radio and TV editorial offices participated in the study. RESULTS: The journalists experienced occupational stress at an average level, but at significantly lower than other professional groups. The study revealed the risk of health self-assessment deterioration, depending on specific risks (OR = 1.849, 95% CI: 1.068-3.203), risk of work organization dissatisfaction due to the impact of stress arising from the contextual job characteristics (OR = 1.942, 95% CI: 1.125-3.352) and dissatisfaction with relationships with co-workers due to the stressfulness of pathologies occurring in the workplace (OR = 2.012, 95% CI: 1.184-3.419). CONCLUSIONS: The study results evidence that occupational stress experienced by journalists determine the risk of health self-assessment, satisfaction with work organization and interpersonal relationships. The presented outcomes indicate that regardless of the experienced stress level it is necessary to assess the psychosocial risk because even an average level of stressfulness could be associated with the risk of adverse consequences for employees in terms of their job performance.

[Organizational and individual determinants of using initiatives conducive to successful work-life balance]. / Organizacyjne i indywidualne uwarunkowania korzystania z rozwiazan sprzyjajacych równowazeniu zycia zawodowego i prywatnego.

Appropriate distribution of time and energy between work and personal life poses a challenge to many working people. Unfortunately, many professionally active people experience work-family conflict. In order to minimize it, employees are offered various solutions aimed at reconciling professional and private spheres (work-life balance (WLB) initiatives). The authors attempt to answer what makes employees use WLB initiatives and what influences the decision to reject the available options. The review is based on the articles published after 2000, searched by Google Scholar and Web of Knowledge with use of the key words: work-life balance, work-family conflict, work-life balance initiatives, work-life balance initiatives use, use of WLB solutions. We focused on organizational and individual determinants of WLB initiatives use, such as organizational culture, stereotypes and values prevailing in the work environment that may result in stigmatization of workers - flexibility stigma. We discuss the reasons why supervisors and co-workers stigmatize their colleagues, and what are the consequences of experiencing such stigmatization. Among the individual determinants of WLB initiatives use, we have inter alia focused on the preference for integration vs. separation of the spheres of life. The presented material shows that social factors - cultural norms prevailing in a society, relationships in the workplace and individual factors, such as the level of self-control - are of equal importance for decisions of using WLB initiatives as their existence. Our conclusion is that little attention has been paid to the research on determinants of WLB initiatives use, especially to individual ones.

Effect of a 10-week yoga programme on the quality of life of women after breast cancer surgery.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The following research is aimed at determining the effect of yoga on the quality of life of women after breast cancer surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 10-week yoga programme included 90-minute yoga lessons once a week. To estimate the quality of life, questionnaires developed by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23) were used. An experimental group consisted of 12 women who practised yoga, a control group - of 16 women who did not. Between groups there were no differences in age, time from operation and characteristics associated with disease, treatment and participation in rehabilitation. RESULTS: Our results revealed an improvement of general health and quality of life, physical and social functioning as well as a reduction of difficulties in daily activities among exercising women. Also their future prospects enhanced - they worried less about their health than they used to before participating in the programme. As compared to baseline, among exercising women, fatigue, dyspnoea and discomfort (pain, swelling, sensitivity) in the arm and breast on the operated side decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the exercising programme resulted in an improvement of physical functioning, reduction of fatigue, dyspnoea, and discomfort in the area of the breast and arm on the operated side. Based on our results and those obtained in foreign studies, we conclude that rehabilitation with the use of yoga practice improves the quality of life of the patients after breast cancer surgery. However, we recommend further research on this issue in Poland.

The relationship between psychosocial risks and occupational functioning among miners.

OBJECTIVES: This paper presents the results of research on the scale of psychosocial risks among miners. A comparative analysis was made, comparing the research results with the data obtained from workers in the following industries: metal, energy, chemical and construction - along with an indication of the relationship between stressful working conditions and the occupational functioning of the respondents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved 483 adults employed in mines in Poland. The study on psychosocial risks in the workplace was performed using Psychosocial Risk Scale, developed by the Department of Health and Work Psychology of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódz, Poland. Psychosocial Risk Scale is the scientifically validated diagnostic tool and is characterized by high reliability and validity of coefficients. RESULTS: The analysis of differences in occupational functioning between miners and other workers in heavy industry provides that miners are in general more healthy, less stressed, more positive emotionally and normatively committed to work, more satisfied with work, and more stable in the employment (as opposite to turnover intention) than the other workers. The results suggest that miners with a lower level of stress functioned at work better - they evaluated their health and ability to work better than miners with a higher level of stress. Their intention to change a job was lower than among those experiencing more stress. The most pronounced effect was observed for the influence on this dimension of functioning by job context risks (the higher level of probability, and the higher t-test value). CONCLUSIONS: Occupational functioning of miners in Poland is better than the other employees in heavy industry. The analysis of differences in occupational functioning dimensions provides that a lower level of psychosocial risk in a workplace is connected with a higher level of job satisfaction, positive affective and normative work commitment and a lower level of turnover intension. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):87-98.

Sense of Coherence, Smoking Status, Biochemical Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Body Mass in Blue Collar Workers-Short Report.

The crucial cause of cardiovascular disorders is atherosclerosis developed by abnormal cholesterols levels or disorders affecting blood glucose. One of the best-known cardiovascular risk factors is also tobacco smoking. Simultaneously, sense of coherence (SoC) as a personal resource motivating to managing one's own health behaviors, such as avoiding tobacco smoking, was reported to be protective against coronary heart disease. Such association was observed in white-collar workers but not in blue-collar workers. According to the above, the present article aims to establish relationships between SoC, smoking behaviors, biochemical markers (BM): lipids and glucose levels and body mass index (BMI) in blue-collar workers. Sense of Coherence Questionnaire (SOC-29), fasting blood test, and BMI were used to assess such relationships. The study group consisted of 304 Polish males working 8-hr shifts in a 4-brigade rotating system. The analysis revealed that SoC level did not differ depending on smoking behavior. The analysis also showed no differences in BMI and BM depending on SoC. Concerning smoking status, the study group was divided into three subgroups which differed regarding triglycerides and glucose levels. The present findings considering SoC indicate that any psychological construct should not be studied separately because probably only some sets of different features may influence one's behavior and BM as well.

Development and validation of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire: Preliminary findings.

This article describes the development of the Eating Maturity Questionnaire, a self-reported measurement of eating maturity that initiates and gives direction to human eating behaviors. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire was designed to study individuals' biological and psychosocial motives for eating. The Eating Maturity Questionnaire is a 21-item tool with satisfactory psychometric values (Cronbach's α coefficients between 0.83 and 0.88) consisting of two subscales: Rational Eating and Psychosocial Maturity Eating Maturity Questionnaire results may be used to design programs that target eating behaviors and body mass modification.

Relationships between occupational functioning and stress among radio journalists--Assessment by means of the Psychosocial Risk Scale.

OBJECTIVES: Job characteristics and the consequences of everyday stress among radio journalists who are not exposed to traumatic events have not been studied sufficiently before. We aimed at determining the most common job characteristics and their stressfulness; relationships between stress exposure, health and occupational functioning; differences between radio journalists and other journalists, and also the psychosocial risk for health and functioning in this group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The studied group involved 208 journalists, 134 of whom worked in radio stations. The respondents filled in the Psychosocial Risks Scale (PRS) developed by the Department of Health and Work Psychology of the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódz, Poland. RESULTS: Requirement of mental effort and readiness to response quickly for most of the time as well as limited possibilities for promotion were the most frequent journalists' complaints. We confirmed that higher levels of stress resulted in worse functioning--the radio journalists who experienced lower stress assessed their health status and ability to work better, were more satisfied with particular aspects of their work, and were more involved in their work. They also presented a significantly lower turnover intention. Moreover, the radio journalists were more involved in their work than other journalists, but experienced lower satisfaction, took more sick leaves and had more days of absence. CONCLUSIONS: Well-known relationships between stress level, satisfaction and occupational functioning were confirmed. The most important conclusion refers to the fact that psychosocial risks and stress analysis should be based on the understanding of specificity of each occupation or even position. It is so, because the same job characteristic may pose a challenge for one person, while for another--it can result in extreme discomfort and anxiety--such an attitude broadens understanding of the phenomenon. We also confirmed that the PRS is a well-designed method, appropriate to investigate an individual perception of job environment and its stressfulness. Future research on causal relationships between the variables is recommended.