The Science of Occupational Health Stress, Psychobiology, and the New World of Work

by Lundberg, Ulf; Cooper, Cary; Marmot, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781405199148
• ISBN10: 1405199148
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-12-13
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

The Science of Occupational Health is an evidence-based resource for all members of the health care team working with those affected by work-based stress. The authors offer a unique psychobiological perspective, discussing the modern workplace as a cause of stimulation and well-being, as well as of distress and illness. They provide a rigorous but highly accessible scientific account of the effects that stress has on mind and body, with key chapters on 'Responses to Stress', 'Stress-Related Health Problems', and 'Stress Hormones at Work'.

Author Biography

Ulf Lundberg is Professor of Biological Psychology in the Department of Psychology, Stockholm University and at the Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), affiliated with Stockholm University and the Karolinska Institute. He has published extensively on work, stress and health. Cary L. Cooper, CBE is Distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University. He is the author of over 100 books (on occupational stress, women at work and industrial and organizational psychology), was lead scientist on the UK government's Foresight programme on Mental Capital and Wellbeing and is a frequent contributor to national newspapers, TV and radio.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Foreword	p. xi
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
Introduction: History of Work and Health	p. 1
General background and aim	p. 1
Work and health from an evolutionary perspective	p. 4
About this book	p. 10
The New Workplace in a Rapidly Changing World	p. 11
Global economy and global competition	p. 11
Flexible organisations - flexible workers	p. 13
Health consequences of 'sickness presenteeism'	p. 15
Rationalisation	p. 16
Sources of stress at work	p. 17
The New World of Work	p. 22
Lean manufacturing and just-in-time production	p. 22
Frequent restructuring	p. 24
Lifelong learning, work and family-life balance	p. 25
Long working hours and overtime	p. 27
The role of modern communication technology and telecommuting: work without boundaries, or endless work	p. 29
Diffuse distinction between work and other parts of life	p. 32
The challenge for health and well-being in organisations in the future	p. 33
A flexible workforce	p. 34
Work as a Source of Stimulation and Health or a Cause of Distress and Illness	p. 41
Work-related stress models	p. 41
Justice	p. 45
Positive and negative work	p. 45
Job satisfaction	p. 47
Workaholism	p. 48
Type A behaviour	p. 49
Job strain and heart disorder	p. 50
Conclusion	p. 52
Responses to Stress	p. 53
Mind-body interaction	p. 53
The neuroendocrine stress systems	p. 55
The cardiovascular system	p. 57
Coping with stress	p. 58
Acute stress	p. 60
Chronic stress	p. 66
Short-term versus long-term stress	p. 68
Importance of sleep	p. 68
Allostatic load	p. 69
Catabolic and anabolic processes	p. 73
Stress-related Health Problems	p. 75
Chronic fatigue, depression, burnout	p. 76
Cardiovascular disorders	p. 78
Immune function	p. 79
Cognitive function	p. 81
Obesity, diabetes - the metabolic syndrome	p. 82
Musculoskeletal disorders	p. 84
Ulcers	p. 89
HIV, AIDS and cancer	p. 89
When should I be worried?	p. 90
How can any treatment be efficient?	p. 91
Stress Hormones at Work	p. 92
Socioeconomic Status and Health	p. 96
Health Promotion	p. 102
Health intervention, stress reduction	p. 102
Managing stress in a changing workforce	p. 103
Individual interventions	p. 104
Healthy work	p. 106
Mental capital and well-being	p. 109
Interventions and policies	p. 111
Physically risky jobs	p. 112
Positive psychology	p. 112
Restorative environments and recreation	p. 115
Sleep	p. 117
Physical activity	p. 118
Gender Differences	p. 120
Symptoms, health and life expectancy	p. 120
Work tasks	p. 122
Unpaid work and total workload	p. 126
Children, women and stress	p. 128
Preventive Strategies	p. 129
Occupational hazards	p. 129
Health promotion	p. 129
Occupational conditions in Europe	p. 130
Healthy work	p. 130
SES and health	p. 131
Work-life balance	p. 132
What can we do to reduce stress?	p. 133
Comments on preventive strategies	p. 134
The Future Workplace from a Stress-Health Perspective	p. 135
A changing world	p. 135
Work and health	p. 136
Stress, well-being and productivity	p. 138
Demographic changes in Europe and Japan	p. 140
Global issues	p. 141
References	p. 145
Index	p. 163
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