Symptoms and sense of coherence – a follow-up study of personnel from workplace buildings with indoor air problems

Abstract

Objectives. The aim was to study prevalence and change of symptoms in buildings with suspected indoor air problems in relation to sense of coherence (SOC), a psychological measure of a life attitude.

Methods. A cohort of 194 subjects initially working in 19 Swedish buildings with indoor environmental problems was followed from 1988 to 1998. Information on 16 symptoms compatible with sick building syndrome (SBS) was gathered by an initial questionnaire mailed between 1988 and 1992. The same symptom questionnaire, as well as Antonovsky's SOC, was administered in a postal follow-up study in 1998. The prevalence of symptoms and the change (incidence) plus reminiscence of symptoms were calculated for individual symptoms and a total symptom score (SC). Bivariate analyses, as well as multiple linear and logistic regression analyses, were applied and adjusted for age, gender, history of atopy and tobacco smoking.

Results. SBS was more common in women, younger subjects and those with a history of atopy. A low SOC was related to a higher prevalence of ocular, nasal, and throat symptoms, tiredness, and headache. In addition, subjects with a low SOC developed more symptoms during the follow-up period. Women had a lower SOC value, but there was no relation between SOC and age, smoking, doctor's diagnosed asthma or a history of atopy. Subjects leaving the problem buildings during the follow-up period had a decrease in symptoms and were more often non-smokers, but had the same mean SOC score as those remaining in the same workplace.

Conclusions. The study indicates that SOC can detect personal vulnerability in relation to suspected environmental stress. Symptoms reported in the buildings with suspected indoor air problems are partly reversible, as indicated by the reduction of symptoms among those leaving these buildings. A multi-disciplinary approach including personality aspects, allergic disorders and indoor exposures should be applied in investigations of buildings with suspected indoor air problems.