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Work organization and drinking: an epidemiological comparison of two psychosocial work exposure models

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Abstract

Objectives

To examine the relationship between two alternative psychosocial work exposure measurement frameworks (i.e., job alienation and job stress) and three drinking behaviours (frequent, heavy and drinking and work).

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3,099 US drinking workers. Job stress conditions were assessed according to the Karasek’s job strain model. Alienating job conditions were assessed with measures based on Kohn and Schooler’s occupational self-direction concept. Multivariate logistic regression controlling for a wide range of known covariates was used.

Results

High strain work showed no associations, while workers in passive jobs had an increased likelihood of heavy (OR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.02–1.64) and lower likelihood of frequent drinking (OR = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.52–0.97). Unexpectedly, low complexity combined with low constraint related to more frequent drinking (OR = 1.60; 95%CI: 1.22–2.10). No associations with drinking at work were observed.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest an association between different work environment features and drinking behaviours. Our findings highlight the value of exploring the hypothesized passive pathway of the job strain model together with other theoretical perspectives, such as alienating job conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the contributions made by other individuals who have participated in this research: Nicole Bell, Lois Biener, Diana Chapman Walsh, Gary Gregg, Karen Kuhlthau, Jeff Hansen, Jonathan Howland, Lauren Komp, Marianne Lee, and Sol Levine. We are thankful to Anne L. Dybala for her assistance in editing the manuscript. This research was completed with support of the Alcohol Beverage Medical Research Foundation (Dr. Amick), The National Institute for Alcohol Abuse (Drs. Amick and Mangione) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Drs. Amick and Mangione). Drs. Gimeno and Barrientos-Gutiérrez were supported by a Fogarty International Center Training Grant (3 D43 TW00644).

Competing interests

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, International Institute for Society and Health, UCL Medical School, London, UK

    David Gimeno

  2. The University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus, San Antonio, TX, USA

    David Gimeno

  3. Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, The University of Texas School of Public Health, Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Benjamin C. Amick III & Tonatiuh Barrientos-Gutiérrez

  4. The Institute for Work and Health, 800 University Ave, Suite 800, Toronto, ON, M5G 2E9, Canada

    Benjamin C. Amick III

  5. Centro de Investigación en Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    Tonatiuh Barrientos-Gutiérrez

  6. John Snow Inc. Research and Training Institute, Boston, MA, USA

    Thomas W. Mangione

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  1. David Gimeno
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  2. Benjamin C. Amick III
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  3. Tonatiuh Barrientos-Gutiérrez
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  4. Thomas W. Mangione
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin C. Amick III.

Appendices

Appendix 1

Table 5

Table 5 Adjusted associations between sociodemographics, occupational characteristics, health-related individual psychological states and design effects, and frequent, heavy and drinking at work (n = 3,099)
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Appendix 2

Table 6

Table 6 Comparison of organizational features of the participant work sites with an USA national representative sample of organizations
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Gimeno, D., Amick, B.C., Barrientos-Gutiérrez, T. et al. Work organization and drinking: an epidemiological comparison of two psychosocial work exposure models. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82, 305–317 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0335-z

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