UCL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The overarching aim of this project is to obtain reliable information on the effects of psychosocial work-related factors on chronic diseases, disability and mortality in specific employee groups, such as those with low-income job, pre-existing disease or risk behaviours, as well as those with healthy lifestyles and favourable work organisation, defined by positive and supporting leadership. We will pursue this aim with a consortium of major European cohort studies from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France and the UK (total n = 140,000). The programme will lead to the creation of the largest highly-characterised dataset on psychosocial factors at work and health as well as a confluence of expertise unique in the world. The information that will be obtained from this programme is not available from previous studies which have been underpowered to undertake sub-group analyses or from literature-based meta-analyses because source studies did not report underpowered subgroup analyses.

We have the following study objectives:

(1) To examine the association between psychosocial work factors and health outcomes in risk groups, including those in low-income jobs, high alcohol consumers, smokers, obese employees, hypertensive and dyslipidaemic employees, women and older employees (55+). This information would be important as it identifies employee groups who are particularly at risk.

(2) To investigate the association between psychosocial work factors and mortality in groups with a prevalent chronic condition (coronary heart disease, history of stroke, cancer, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes or depression). We hypothesise that work-related psychosocial factors are associated with recurrent disease events and excess mortality in relation to at least some of these chronic conditions suggesting that these factors influence the prognosis of specific diseases.

(3) To determine the association of psychosocial work factors with important health outcomes which commonly have their onset after retirement, such as cerebrovascular diseases and dementia.

(4) To examine the association between psychosocial work factors and health outcomes among those with a healthy lifestyle (moderate drinking, non-smoking, normal weight, physically active, socially active). We hypothesise that the association is reduced in these groups, suggesting that a healthy lifestyle may be protective against the adverse effects of psychosocial risk factors.

(5) To study whether the association between psychosocial factors and health outcomes is modified by leadership and managerial practices. Our hypothesis is that management which is perceived as fair protects against the adverse consequences of poor psychosocial work environment.

This pan-European project will build a unique empirical resource to develop new evidence-based policies that address what kind of psychosocial factors, for whom, and in what circumstances may increase disease risk.