• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2012

This study attempted to evaluate the direct and indirect effect of emotional labor, job and psychosocial stress, and fatigue of beauty industry workers on their musculoskeletal diseases. The findings of this study showed that, among the workers with perceived symptoms of musculoskeletal diseases, the body part with the most commonly occurring symptom was the shoulder, followed by neck, low back, wrist, arm, foot and knee. As for the effect of work-related psychological factors on musculoskeletal diseases, it was found that the workers with musculoskeletal diseases were more affected by emotional labor and fatigue than non-symptom workers. It was also shown that when their job stress increased, the fatigue level also increased, though their psychosocial stress decreased. In addition, it was found that both direct and indirect effects of emotional labor on fatigue were high, and the indirect effect of job stress through fatigue on musculoskeletal diseases was significant.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.63-72
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• 2015

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of occupational stress and psychosocial stress to health promotion behaviors depending on characteristics of female office workers and emotional labor workers for sales. Methods: A survey of 207 female service workers engaging in sales of cosmetics in major department stores and 149 females working in the offices of cosmetics companies was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: It showed a significant difference in job demand and insufficient job control which are sub-domains of stress. The percentage of emotional laborers exposed to a high risk of psychosocial stress was higher than office workers. In office workers, occupational stress stemmed from insufficient job control and low reward of work was significantly related to psychosocial stress. But in emotional labor workers, stress from job insecurity, and organizational system were added. The relevant factors that affect health promotion behaviors were type of occupational stress, psychosocial stress, marital status, educational level and working career. Conclusions: Occupational stress and psychosocial stress were closely associated with health promotion behaviors. It was suggested that the development of health promotion programs which reduce the stress in female office and emotional labor workers.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.187-199
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine social factors associated with problematic drinking among middle- and older-aged men in South Korea. Methods : The data were collected from the baseline survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, and the sample consisted of 3,631 men between 45 and 64 years of age and 1,173 men aged 65 or older. This study employed variables identifying various socioeconomic features, social ties, and health-related factors. Logistic regressions were used for the data analysis. Results : Middle-aged men having frequent social relationship with close persons were significantly more likely to be problematic drinkers than those having less frequent social relationships with close persons. Lower education, unemployment, smoking, and depression were associated with problematic drinking only among middle-aged men. Conclusions : We suggest that health professionals develop specific intervention strategies that could lead to more moderate alcohol habits and better health in middle aged Korean men who are actively engaged in social networks. In addition, health professionals need to focus more on the unemployed, lower educated, depressed, and smoking groups for early detection of problematic drinking among middle-aged Korean men.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.390-402
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• 2009

This study aimed to examine the general characteristics of individual workers, psychosocial working environment, and ergonomic risk factors which affect the status of musculoskeletal disorders. Self-report was carried out for musculoskeletal symptoms and ergonomic risks in working environment in 856 production workers in 16 small to medium sized manufacturing companies. Musculoskeletal symptoms were examined with a standardized questionnaire, and ergonomic risks were evaluated with a qualitative self-administered instrument for the tasks related to musculoskeletal disorders. Major findings were as follows: 1) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was higher in female, aged, married workers with longer working hours, less leisure/hobby activity, longer household working hours and history of disease or accident. 2) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers with dissatisfaction, difficult tasks, and no self-control at work. 3) Complaint rate for musculoskeletal symptoms was significantly higher in workers involved in tasks with major ergonomic risk factors, and handling heavy equipment. 4) Explanatory power increased the model with the musculoskeletal symptoms as dependent variable and demographic variables, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors included, and total explanatory power of 18.6% revealed the significant effect. Based on the results, we can conclude that musculoskeletal symptoms in manufacturing workers are associated with individual demographic characteristics, psychosocial working environment and ergonomic risk factors.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2010

This study investigated the relationships between Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), contributing factors, and the occupational stress of physical therapists. Self-reported questionnaires were given to 180 physical therapists in Gangwon Province. Variables examined included the prevalence of pain sites related to WMSDs; pain intensity; pain pattern; and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Among physical therapists, work-related musculoskeletal pain commonly affected the low back (30.1%), shoulder (29.3%), and wrist (12.2%). The sites of work-related musculoskeletal pain treated medically were the low back (22.8%), shoulder (19.8%), neck (12.7%), and wrist (12.1%). "Repeating the same work constantly" was suggested to be the major cause of the pain. The younger therapists were significantly more likely to feel high job stress due to the physical environment (p<.05), job demand (p<.05), and organizational system (p<.01). Women were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job demand, insufficient job control, the organization system, and job rewards. Men were more likely to feel greater job stress related to job insecurity. Weak positive relationships were observed between work-related musculoskeletal pain and job stress, which is thought to involve the physical environment; job demand; insufficient job control; interpersonal conflict; job insecurity; organizational system; reward system; and occupational culture. Physical therapists appear to be at higher risk of WMSDs because 80.1% of the physical therapists studied experienced work-related musculoskeletal pain. To reduce the risk, we need intervention strategies such as preventive education, ergonomically designed medical equipment, a psychosocial approach to work conditions, improved mechanical conditions related to therapeutic patterns, and an institutional infrastructure with sufficient personnel and scheduling.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.108-118
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• 2019

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of occupational stress factors on the level of stress and depression of entertainment program producers and entertainment program writers. Methods: This study was based on analysis of a survey collected by 65 respondents out of 224 questionnaires who are entertainment program PDs and entertainment program writers. The survey was conducted from December 20, 2017 to February 20, 2018. Results: In the logistic regression analysis conducted to investigate the factors affecting the stress level in the job-related characteristics of a) higher total career, b) shorter working period in the current firm, c) longer weekly working hours and d) more count of weekend work, the results found higher stress levels. In the sub-factors of job stress, the stress level encountered by respondents was significantly higher for those with a) higher job demand, b) lower insufficient job control and c) higher job instability. In the logistic regression analysis conducted to investigate the factors affecting depression, the depression level in entertainment PD was higher than the entertainment writer in the sociodemographic characteristics. In the sub-factors of job stress, the stress level was significantly higher for those with higher job demand, lower insufficient job control, and higher job instability. For job-related characteristics, depression was significantly higher for longer weekly working hours. Conclusions: Entertainment program producers and entertainment program writers suffer from psychosocial stress and depression which are caused by excessive job demands, lack of job autonomy and job instabilities. Those factors must be managed and also their workweek should be shortened.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.149-157
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• 2010

Objectives: To quantify disability level in salespeople with concurrent low back pain (LBP) and to determine the relative associations between demographic, occupational, psychosocial and clinical factors and back disability. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability in people under 45 years of age and the most expensive cause of work-related disability, in terms of workers' compensation and medical expenses. Evidence suggests high prevalence of LBP in salespeople. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in which 184 saleswomen with a current episode of self-reported LBP working in a large up-scale department store filled out a battery of 6 self-administered questionnaires and received a standardised physical examination. Results: Saleswomen with concurrent LBP had low disability levels. Factors significantly associated with disability were pain intensity, measured by a visual analogue scale, in the past week (p < 0.001), physical and mental health status (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively), fear avoidance scores for both work and physical activities (p = 0.031, p = 0.014, respectively), past history of LBP (p = 0.019), and self-reported frequency of pushing or pulling objects placed in high positions during work (p = 0.047). A significant level (45%) of the variance in disability status was explained by these variables. Conclusion: In clinical management of LBP workers who required prolonged standing, such as salespeople, clinicians should look for modifiable risk factors associated with disability. Specific measures need to be taken to prevent disability due to LBP among salespeople.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.3887-3896
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• 2011

This study was intended to measure the level of psychosocial stress among nurses working for a university hospital and to reveal its related factors. The self-administered questionnaires were given to 450 nurses during the period from October 1st to 31st, 2010. As a results, the level of psychosocial stress was 10.2% in normal group, 64.0% in potential stresses group, and 25.8% in high risk stress group. In correlation, psychosocial stress was positively correlated with job demand, but it was negatively correlated with job autonomy, supervisor and colleague support. For the results of hierarchial multiple regression analysis, the level of psychosocial stress was influenced by the variables of regular exercise, quality of sleep, subjective status of health, shift work, fit to the job, job demand, job autonomy and supervisor support. Especially, the psychosocial stress was higher related with the contents of job stress increased with explanatory powers of 18.1% on the psychosocial stress.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-20
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• 2019

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.1483-1490
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• 2004

Community-based centres were surveyed to determine the frequency of and risk factors for falls among elderly Koreans. We examined fall-related risk factors, including physiological and physical health, psychosocial functions, self-reported physical capacity and activity, vision, and the use of medication, among 351 elderly people aged 65 years or older, with ambulatory. Forty-two per cent of elderly Korean subjects reported at least one episode of falling in the previous 12 months, $38\%$ of whom had consequences that required either the attention of a physician or hospitalization. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of falling were a restricted activity during the previous five years (adjusted OR 1.3), use of alternative therapy (adjusted OR 2.7), low knee flexor and extensor-muscle strength (adjusted OR 1.21 and 1.20), and poor balance with closed eyes (adjusted OR 8.32). We conclude that falls among older persons living in the community are common in Korea and that indicator of bad health and frailty or variables directly related to neuromuscular impairment are significant predictors of the risk of falling.