Abstract

Interpersonal variation in worker reaction to various sources of work-related stress is poorly understood.

Medical examination and a questionnaire were used to identify the sociodemographic, occupational, and personal characteristics of 1 200 hospital employees. A personality typology was developed on the basis of literature review.

Workers suffering job-context-related stress are irritated, depressed, and often absent. Job-content-related stress results in an increase in arterial blood pressure, and low absenteeism. There is large interpersonal variation in reactions to stress.

A better understanding of the principal sources of occupational stress will facilitate attempts to improve the quality of working life. This in turn results in the more effective management of stress-induced effects. The IRSST has funded further work in this area (RS-86-44).