"It Was Not Me That Was Sick, It Was the Building": Rhetorical Identity Management Strategies in the Context of Observed or Suspected Indoor Air Problems in Workplaces.

Suffering from a contested illness poses a serious threat to one's identity. We analyzed the rhetorical identity management strategies respondents used when depicting their health problems and lives in the context of observed or suspected indoor air (IA) problems in the workplace. The data consisted of essays collected by the Finnish Literature Society. We used discourse-oriented methods to interpret a variety of language uses in the construction of identity strategies. Six strategies were identified: respondents described themselves as normal and good citizens with strong characters, and as IA sufferers who received acknowledge from others, offered positive meanings to their in-group, and demanded recognition. These identity strategies located on two continua: (a) individual- and collective-level strategies and (b) dissolved and emphasized (sub)category boundaries. The practical conclusion is that professionals should be aware of these complex coping strategies when aiming to interact effectively with people suffering from contested illnesses.

Experience of living with nonspecific building-related symptoms.

Nonspecific building-related symptoms (NBRS) is a combination of general, skin and mucosal symptoms related to certain buildings. Despite high prevalence in the general population and severe symptomatology in certain cases there is no scientific documentation of quality of life in NBRS. The purpose of this study was to illuminate how individuals with NBRS experience daily life. Data were collected through descriptive, written texts and through telephone interviews with 11 individuals diagnosed with NBRS, and qualitative content analysis was conducted. Three main content areas were identified: (1) attitudes from the surrounding (categories: being questioned and lack of understanding from others; from zero to full support); (2) consequences (difficulties with daily activities; financial difficulties; affecting family and friends; emotional consequences); and (3) coping (learning to accept and finding solutions; avoiding; struggling; finding the positive; making one's home a sanctuary). As a conclusion, NBRS may affect several aspects of daily life, resulting in considerable alterations, limitations and emotional impact for the afflicted person and his/her family. Both environmental factors and attitudes from the surrounding can contribute to this impact on daily life. Strategies needed to cope with this impact may include both problem-focused and emotion-focused strategies, such as struggling, avoiding trigger factors and finding positive aspects.

The effect of increased classroom ventilation rate indicated by reduced CO2 concentration on the performance of schoolwork by children.

The article reports on an experiment which investigated the effect of increased classroom ventilation rate on the performance of children aged 10-12 years. The experiment was executed at two different schools (two classrooms at each school) as a double-blind 2 × 2 crossover intervention where four different performance tests were used as surrogates for short-term concentration and logical thinking. Only complete pairs of test responses were included in the within-subject comparisons of performance, and data were not corrected for learning and fatigue effects. Analysis of the total sample suggested the number of correct answers was improved significantly in four of four performance test, addition (6.3%), number comparison (4.8%), grammatical reasoning (3.2%), and reading and comprehension (7.4%), when the outdoor air supply rate was increased from an average of 1.7 (1.4-2.0) to 6.6 l/s per person. The increased outdoor air supply rate did not have any significant effect on the number of errors in any of the performance tests. Results from questionnaires regarding pupil perception of the indoor environment, reported Sick Building Syndrome symptoms, and motivation suggested that the study classroom air was perceived more still and pupil were experiencing less pain in the eyes in the recirculation condition compared to the fresh air condition.

Decreased work ability associated to indoor air problems--An intervention (RCT) to promote health behavior.

INTRODUCTION: Indoor air problems may induce respiratory irritation and inflammation. In occupational settings, long-lasting non-specific building-related symptomatology, not fully medically explained, is encountered. The symptomatology may lead to illness, avoidance behavior and decreased work ability. In Finland, investigations of workers suspected of occupational asthma have revealed excess disability. There are no well-established clinical practices for the condition. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a clinical intervention for patients with non-specific indoor air-related symptoms and decreased work ability. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial including psychoeducation and promotion of health behavior was carried out in 55 patients investigated for causal relationship between work-related respiratory symptoms and moisture damaged workplaces. Inclusion criteria for disability was the work ability score (WAS)≤7 (scale 0-10) and indoor air-related sick leave ≥14 days the preceding year. After medical evaluation and the 3-session counseling intervention, follow-up at 6-months was assessed using self-evaluated work-ability, sick leave days, quality of life, and illness worries as outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean symptom history was 55.5 months. 82% (45 out of 55) had asthma with normal lung function tests in most cases, although reporting abundant asthma symptoms. 81% of patients (39/48) had symptomatology from multiple organ systems without biomedical explanation, despite environmental improvements at work place. At the psychological counseling sessions, 15 (60%) patients of the intervention (INT, n=25) group showed concerns of a serious disease and in 5 (20%), concerns and fears had led to avoidance and restricted personal life. In the 6-month follow-up, the outcomes in the INT group did not differ from the treatment as usual group. CONCLUSION: No intervention effects were found. Patients shared features with medically unexplained symptoms and sick building syndrome or idiopathic environmental intolerance. Long environment-attributed non-specific symptom history and disability may require more intensive interventions. There is a need for improved recognition and early measures to prevent indoor-associated disability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Single-center randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN33165676).

Social determinants of the sick building syndrome: exploring the interrelated effects of social position and psychosocial situation.

This paper examines the importance of various social factors for the prevalence of "sick building syndrome" (SBS) in residential buildings. A survey has been conducted in Malmö, Sweden, resulting in 1131 randomly selected residents participating in the study (response rate 57 %). Two clusters of social factors were examined: the socio-structural position of the individual and psychosocial aspects of the housing situation. The results show that country of birth, in particular, and also education and employment status are important predictors of "domestic SBS". "Housing satisfaction" turns out to be an important psychosocial predictor of SBS, explaining, for example, why immigrants report more symptoms than natives.

[Psychosocial factors in indoor work-related symptoms. Application of the MM040/IAQ questionnaire. ]. / Fattori psicosociali nei sintomi correlate al lavoro in interni. Applicazione del questionario MM040/IAQ.

AIMS: To study the relationship between psychosocial factors and the perception of the work environment by means of a questionnaire and to evaluate the efficacy of using a questionnaire for contributing to the solution of environmental problems and for monitoring work-related stress. METHODS: Before the routine medical examination, the occupational physician administered questionnaires to all the employees who had been working at least one year in an indoor environment in 28 companies. 4,029 out of 4,129 subjects participated (97.6%). RESULTS: There was a significant association between psychosocial factors and perception of the work environment. The association between psychosocial factors and symptoms was also significant. CONCLUSIONS: RESULTS confirmed the role of psychosocial factors in the perception of the work environment and in the attribution of symptoms to occupational exposure, without excluding the possibility that symptoms were actually caused by occupational exposure. The questionnaire proved to be a valid tool for monitoring perceived occupational stress.

Coping and self-image in patients with symptoms attributed to indoor environment.

This study investigated self-image and coping ability in a group of patients with symptoms from indoor environment. A follow-up questionnaire was sent to 239 patients previously referred with nonspecific building-related symptoms at University Hospital in Umeå, Sweden. One hundred seventy-four women and 14 men answered and the patient group rated their self-image as more spontaneous, more positive, and less negative than a control group. The patient group rated higher on the cognitive scale in the Coping Resources Inventory (CRI) than the control group. The female patients had an increased risk of not being able to work associated with a low score on negative self-image. The authors conclude that certain personality traits may be potential risk factors that increase the probability of encountering and experiencing stressful work situations. The resulting stress may increase workers' susceptibility to indoor environment exposure.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) and sick house syndrome (SHS) in relation to psychosocial stress at work in the Swedish workforce.

PURPOSE: Medical symptoms called sick building syndrome (SBS) and sick house syndrome (SHS) are usually investigated separately: in this study, SBS and SHS were explored simultaneously. The significance of personal factors, perceptions of air quality, and psychosocial work situation in explaining SBS and SHS were investigated. METHODS: A random sample of 1,000 subjects (20-65 year) received a postal questionnaire including questions on personal factors, medical symptoms, and the psychosocial demand-control-support model. The response rate was 70 % (n = 695), of which 532 were occupationally active. RESULTS: In logistic regression models, atopy, poor air quality at work, and low social support, especially low supervisor support, were associated with both SBS and SHS when age, gender, smoking, and BMI were introduced. The general work-related symptoms (headache, tiredness, nausea, and sensation of a cold) were also related to low control over work. CONCLUSIONS: The perception of poor physical environmental conditions is associated with common medical symptoms that are both work and home related. The associations between medical symptoms and poor air quality are still present, even when controlling for the psychosocial environment.

[The adventures of "Sick Building Syndrome"]. / Les aventures du «syndrome du bâtiment malsain¼.

The Sick Building syndrome concept is used to describe a variety of minor symptoms that afflict groups of people in the workplace or in public buildings. In theory, the sick building syndrome is characterized by an unspecified etiology: it underlines a multiplicity of possible causes, environmental or psychosocial, which produce various effects. In practice, the concept is often misused as a synonym of the psychogenic syndrome. The paper explores this "etiological reduction" and highlights some of the problematic consequences. The authors advocate for the recognition of uncertainty, which is in their opinion, a source and driver of renewed reflection in the public health area.

Association of neuroticism with sick building syndrome, quality of life and psychomotor performance.

In a group of 221 healthy employees of both sexes the relationship between neuroticism, and perceived quality of life (WHOQOL), inadequate work organization (IWO), Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and speed and accuracy of simple reaction time was studied. The level of neuroticism was assessed by Cornell Index (C.I.), and psychomotor speed and accuracy by electronic psychodiagnostic instrument Complex Reactionmeter Drenovac (CRD). All subjects underwent the same testing procedure completing C.I., SBS, IWO and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaires. The obtained results revealed that persons with more pronounced emotional stability perceive their life better in quality, their work environment with less SBS symptoms, and report more adequate work organization. Furthermore, they have better simple reaction time scores to visual stimuli.

Building-related symptoms and stress indicators.

UNLABELLED: This study aims to study physiological stress indicators in relation to prevalence of building-related symptoms (BRS) among teachers employed in three selected schools in Copenhagen. Three hypotheses were studied: (i) Perceived psychosocial work environment was associated with BRS; (ii) Perceived psychosocial work environment (job strain) was associated with physiological strain; (iii) BRS was associated with physiological strain. We found a tendency among women of an association between job strain and being BRS positive. Also an association between job strain and physiological strain was observed among women. Being BRS positive was not associated with single physiological stress indicators with the exception of a higher level free testosterone in serum among BRS-positive women. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Including physiological stress indicators may be a supplementary measure to questionnaires when studying the association between the psychosocial work environment and building-related symptoms (BRS). In this study, job strain was associated with physiological strain among women. Being BRS positive was not associated with single physiological stress indicators with the exception of a higher level free testosterone in serum among BRS-positive women. This study should be regarded as a preliminary study because of its small number of participants.

Psychosocial factors that aggravate the symptoms of sick house syndrome in Japan.

Over the last 30 years in Japan, there has been a 10% increase in the number of people suffering from sick house syndrome due to toxic chemicals released from construction materials and wallpaper. This syndrome can develop into the more complex and disabling, chemical sensitivity syndrome, so preventing early exposure to toxins at home is critical in reducing the likelihood of health problems in the community. A qualitative study was undertaken using ethnographic methods to identify the psychosocial aggravating factors of sick house syndrome. As a result, the participants identified three aggravating factors that extended the period of exposure of the participant to toxic chemicals: a lack of knowledge about the disorder; the difficulty in establishing a diagnosis; and the difficulty of taking radical measures to improve the home environment. Public awareness of sick house syndrome and the dangers of toxicity from construction materials is vital to eliminate these aggravating factors and to prevent illness.

Symptom definitions for SBS (sick building syndrome) in residential dwellings.

The potential risk factors for sick building syndrome (SBS) in newly built dwellings were investigated. Two different definitions for SBS were used, a narrow definition (symptoms related to home environment and continuously occurring in the last 3 months were regarded as positive) and another relatively broad definition (symptoms related to home environment and either continuously or sporadically occurring in the last 3 months were regarded as positive). With both definitions indoor air chemicals, especially TVOC, and high stress during work were found to be significantly associated with SBS symptoms. Allergic history was more associated with narrow-sense symptoms and odor perception with broad-sense symptoms. The results indicate that the broad definition be preferred to find more potential risk factors.

Negative affect and chemical intolerance as risk factors for building-related symptoms: a controlled exposure study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether differences in negative affect (NA) and chemical intolerance (CI) affect responses to chemical mixtures and stress in a controlled experimental model. METHODS: Participants were 130 nonsmoking, healthy women, recruited from a university community. Participants completed the Positive and Negative Affect Scale and the Chemical Odor Intolerance Index. In separate sessions 1 week apart, they were exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), VOCs with ozone (VOCs+O3), and ambient or filtered air with a 1-minute spike of VOCs (masked clean air). During each session, half of the participants performed a videotaped speech stressor and half performed simple arithmetic. Before, during, and after each session, salivary cortisol samples were collected, and subjects completed neurobehavioral tests and used a ratio scale to rate physical, cognitive, and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: Relative to low NA or low CI, neither the high NA nor the high CI groups reported significantly more symptoms in response to any exposure condition. High NA subjects reported more anxiety symptoms in response to the speech stressor but did not have higher cortisol than low NA subjects. High NA subjects, however, were more distressed by the experimental conditions than were low NA subjects. Low NA subjects reported more severe anxiety in the VOCs+O3 with psychological stress condition. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects high in NA were more anxious after a stressor but were not more physically symptomatic in response to increasing chemical exposures. A disposition toward high or low CI did not result in a differential symptomatic response to controlled chemical exposures.

Projective drawings for assessing stress among subjects with medical symptoms compatible with sick building syndrome, and validation of a modified version of the Stress Load Index from the Drawing Personality Profile: a pilot study.

It was hypothesized that subjects with medical symptoms would show more signs of stress in projective drawings. A Stress Load Index, including five signs of stress in drawings, was evaluated. A questionnaire with an instruction to draw "a person in the rain" was sent to a cohort of 195 subjects, and the drawings were analysed blindly for eight stress items. Men had a higher index than women (p < .05) and drew clouds more often (p < .05). Drawing of clouds was associated with headache (adjOR = 4.28; 95% CI 1.75; 11.68). Drawing of puddles was associated with ocular symptoms (adjOR = 3.22; 95% CI 1.38, 7.50), facial dermal symptoms (adjOR= 2.94; 95% CI 1.28, 6.81), and tiredness (adjOR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.05, 5.67). Drawing of long rain strokes was associated with nasal symptoms (adjOR = 2.28; 95% CI 1.05, 2.06) and headache (adjOR = 3.20; 95% CI 1.28, 8.05). Age and stress load were predictors of sick building syndrome symptoms (p < .05). In conclusion, a nonverbal projective drawing test detected sex differences which represent directions opposite to those with verbal methods. These need empirical assessment.

Sick building syndrome: psychological, somatic, and environmental determinants.

The authors aimed to examine potential relationships between work-related symptoms attributed to sick building syndrome (SBS) and certain psychological, somatic, and environmental factors. The multidisciplinary, cross-sectional study comprised 171 female subjects working in air-conditioned and naturally ventilated nonindustrial office buildings. The authors collected information concerning symptoms related to SBS and made assessments of quality of life by using appropriate questionnaires. They assessed the women's levels of emotional stability or neuroticism using the Cornell Index. They determined skin and airway reactivity markers and indoor microclimate data by using standardized methods. The study showed that the subjects had a high prevalence of fatigue (60.2%), sore and dry eyes (57.9%), and headache (44.4%), as well as a generally high score according to the SBS Index. Neuroticism and subjectively estimated physical health as well as the type of building ventilation significantly contributed to the prediction of the SBS Index, explaining 15% of the variance.

Personal and psychosocial factors and symptoms compatible with sick building syndrome in the Swedish workforce.

A random sample of 1000 subjects (20-65 years of age) received a postal questionnaire regarding sick building syndrome (SBS), including the three-dimensional model of demand-control-support (DCS). The response rate was 70% (n = 695), and 532 were occupationally active. Female gender and atopy were the main predictors of symptoms. Eye symptoms were more common at low social support combined with strained work situation [odds ratio (OR) 2.37], and at high social support combined with active work situation (OR 3.00). Throat symptoms were more common at low social support combined with either passive (OR 1.86) or strained situation (OR 2.42). Tiredness was more common at low social support combined with either passive (OR 2.41), strained (OR 2.25), or active situation (OR 1.87), and at high social support combined with active work situation (OR 1.83). Low social support combined with either passive (P = 0.01) or strained job situation (P = 0.01) was associated with a higher symptom score (SC). The lowest SC was found at a relaxed work situation, irrespective of social support. In conclusion, female gender, low age, asthma, atopy and psychosocial work environment are associated with symptoms. The three-dimensional model can predict symptoms compatible with SBS, but in a more complex way than earlier research indicated. Practical Implications A multi-disciplinary approach, including psychosocial stress factors as well as personal factors such as gender, age, atopy and asthma, and indoor exposures, should be applied in studies on symptoms compatible with sick building syndrome (SBS). Males and females perceive psychosocial work conditions differently, and may react differently to job stressors. The psychosocial work environment can be as important as gender and atopy as a predictor of SBS symptoms.

Adaptation of office workers to a new building - impaired well-being as part of the sick-building-syndrome.

AIM: The focus of our study was the assessment of the effects of spatial relocation on office staff. Our aim was to investigate whether psychosocial or personal factors are better predictors of the occurrence of impaired well-being. METHODS: Before relocation the administration of the university hospital of Ulm (Germany) was located in ten different buildings. Chemical and physical parameters of the indoor air were measured. The employees were surveyed with a questionnaire for their health status and psychosocial determinants. After moving to a new wide-spaced building, the same procedure was reapplied shortly afterwards and half a year later. Only respondents who had taken part in all three surveys are taken into account (n=84). The definition of impaired well-being as defined by the ProKlimA-study group was used as the criterion variable. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of impaired well-being rose from 24% to 36% after relocation. Contrarily, persons who were formerly accommodated in a wide spaced-building showed a reduced risk (OR(post1)=0.3). Affected persons had at all times a more negative response pattern. Chemical and physical parameters did not have any influence in this context. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptation to a new environment is influenced by the old "socialization" of the former buildings. Impaired well-being is not limited to bodily complaints, it rather has a systemic character in the form of a distinctive overall response pattern. For an adequate analysis of impaired well-being - and the sick-building-syndrome in consequence - the elucidation of individual and other potentially intervening factors is essential. Taking this into consideration, the search for norm values or a framework seems to be of limited value.

Visual display terminal work and sick building syndrome--the role of psychosocial distress in the relationship.

The present study investigated the association between visual display terminal (VDT) work and sick building syndrome (SBS) and the role of psychosocial factors in the relationship. Subjects were 2,161 Japanese office workers who responded to a cross-sectional anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. Questions included were derived from the Miljömedicin 040, a validated questionnaire on SBS symptoms. After exclusion of data with missing information, data for 1,881 subjects were used for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio for SBS with adjustment for potential confounding factors, including psychosocial work stress. In multivariate analysis, the odds ratio for SBS was significantly elevated for men engaged in VDT work for 4 or more hours a day (OR=2.5, 95%CI: 1.0, 5.9) compared with less than 1 hour a day, showing a significant trend association (P for trend=0.04). In women, although the odds ratio for SBS with VDT use of 4 or more hours a day was somewhat elevated with adjustment for non-psychosocial factors (OR=1.5, 95%CI: 0.5, 4.3), the increase was greatly attenuated after adjustment for psychosocial work distress (OR=1.1). In conclusion, our study suggests that extended hours of VDT use might be related to increased SBS symptoms. Moreover, psychosocial distress related to VDT work might mediate the relationship between VDT use and SBS symptoms in women.