The Effect of Micro and Macro Stressors in the Work Environment on Computer Professionals' Subjective Health Status and Productive Behavior in Japan

To investigate the effect of micro and macro stressors in the work environment on the subjective health status and productive behavior of computer professionals, we conducted a web-based investigation with Japanese IT-related company employees in 53 company unions. The questionnaire consisted of ind...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial Health 2007, Vol.45(3), pp.474-486
Main Authors: TOMINAGA, Maki, ASAKURA, Takashi, AKIYAMA, Tsuyoshi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Computer professionals
Computers
Efficiency
Female
Health Status
Health Surveys
Humans
Information Science
Intentions to leave
Japan
Job dissatisfaction
Job Satisfaction
Male
Micro and macro stressors
Occupational Exposure
Occupational Health
Psychological Tests
Stress, Psychological - complications
Subjective health status
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:To investigate the effect of micro and macro stressors in the work environment on the subjective health status and productive behavior of computer professionals, we conducted a web-based investigation with Japanese IT-related company employees in 53 company unions. The questionnaire consisted of individual attributes, employment characteristics, working hour characteristics, company size and profitability, personal characteristics (i.e., Growth Need Strength), micro and macro stressors scale, and four outcome scales concerning the subjective health status and productive behavior. We obtained 1,049 Japanese IT-related company employees' data (response rate: 66%), and analyzed the data of computer engineers (80%; n=871). The results of hierarchical multiple regressions showed that each full model explained 23% in psychological distress, 20% in cumulative fatigue, 44% in job dissatisfaction, and 35% in intentions to leave, respectively. In micro stressors, "quantitative and qualitative work overload" had the strongest influence on both the subjective health status and intentions to leave. Furthermore, in macro stressors, "career and future ambiguity" was the most important predictor of the subjective health status, and "insufficient evaluation systems" and "poor supervisor's support" were important predictors of productive behavior as well. These findings suggest that improving not only micro stressors but also macro stressors will enhance the subjective health status and increase the productive behavior of computer professionals in Japan.
ISSN:0019-8366
1880-8026
DOI:10.2486/indhealth.45.474