Occupational stress perception and its potential impact on health: A pilot study in a chemical company

Background: Occupational stress is considered as one risk factor for morbidity and early retirement. Against the background of globalization and demographic change, it becomes an increasingly important factor that can influence job satisfaction and health. In a pilot study, we examined perceived stress across employee groups of different occupational status and investigated its impact on health outcome. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive survey combining questionnaire data and medical examination was offered to 1,250 employees in one division in BASF Ludwigshafen. Among 867 voluntary participants, 653 returned complete questionnaires. The questions were directed at perception of job stress concerning safety at the workplace, relative health status, frequency of perceived tension, feeling over-demanded, time pressure, maladjustment with private life and leisure time. The outcome of interest was self-estimated health measured with Work Ability Index (WAI). Results: Occupational stressors were perceived differently across the occupational status groups. Wage employees had more concern about safety at the workplace, while middle to top managers reported higher frequencies of perceived tension, time pressure, and maladjustment with leisure time and private life. After adjustment for occupational status, demographic and lifestyle factors, perceived stress was associated with a modest to strong impact on declining WAI. Discussion: While perceived occupational stress had an apparent impact on WAI, and WAI has been demonstrated to be predictive to a certain extent for early retirement, more intensive and employee group-specific stress management interventions would be recommended beyond the current strategies, including individual and organisational measures at the workplace, that have been implemented until now.