Work-related Stress and Risk Factors among Korean Employees

Choi, Eun Sook; Ha, Yeongmi

doi:10.4040/jkan.2009.39.4.549

J Korean Acad Nurs. 2009 Aug;39(4):549-561. Korean.
Published online Aug 31, 2009.
https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2009.39.4.549

Original Article

Work-related Stress and Risk Factors among Korean Employees

Eun Sook Choi,¹ and Yeongmi Ha²

Author information

Author notes

Copyright and License

- ¹Full-time Lecturer, The Institute of Nursing Science, College of Nursing, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
- ²Doctoral Student, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Address reprint requests to: Ha, Yeongmi. School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carrington Hall, Campus Box 7460, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7460, USA. Tel: 919-943-0262, Fax: 919-966-7298, Email: ha@email.unc.edu

Received March 11, 2009; Accepted July 23, 2009.

Abstract

Purpose

Work-related stress and risk factors among Korean employees were identified in this study.

Methods

Data were obtained from employees aged 20 to 64 using the Korean Working Conditions Survey 2006 (KWCS). Multiple logistic regression analysis using SAS version 9.1 was performed to examine risk factors of work-related stress by gender.

Results

The age-adjusted prevalence of work-related stress among male and female employees was 18.4% and 15.1% respectively. After adjustments for multiple variables among both male and female employees, there was a significant relationship between work-related stress and risk factors including education, company size, work time, ergonomic risks, biological·chemical risks, and job demands. The significant variables for male employees were housework load, occupational class, and shift work, and for female employees, type of employment.

Conclusion

There is a need to develop and support intensive stress management programs nationally giving consideration to work-related stress associated with working time, physical working environment, and job demands. Based on gender specific approaches, for male employes, stress management programs should be developed with consideration being given to occupational class and shift work. For stress management programs for female employees, consideration needs to be given to permanent employment status, specifically those in small companies.

Keywords

Employee; Stress; Risk factors; Working conditions; Work environments

Tables

Table 1
Characteristics of Korean Employees aged 20-64 yr by Gender

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Table 2
Unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and Adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) for Work-related Stress as Dependent Variable and the Risk Factors as Independent Variables among Korean Employed Men (N=3,292)

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Table 3
Unadjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and Adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) for Work-related Stress as Dependent Variable and the Risk Factors as Independent Variables among Korean Employed Women (N=2,242)

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