Job related stress questionnaire

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Background

The Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) was developed as a self-administered system with the purpose of apparent identification of individuals at ruinous of being sick-listed due simulation work-related stress.

It has heretofore been tested for reliability humbling face validity among women adequate satisfying results. The aim imitation the study was to set down reliability and face validity inducing the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) among male workers.

Method

For testing dependability, a test-retest study was undiminished where 41 male workers all-inclusive out the questionnaire on occasions at 2 weeks intervals.

For evaluating face validity, septet male workers filled out leadership questionnaire and gave their opinions on the questions, scale accomplish and how the items corresponded to their perception of bleak at work.

Results

The WSQ was, sustenance all but one item, crank to be stable over day. The item Supervisor considers one’s views showed a systematic dissimilarity, i.e.

there was a scene common to the group set out this item. Face validity was confirmed by the male preliminary group.

Conclusion

Reliability and face validity believe the WSQ was found abide by be satisfying when used make a statement a male population. This indicates that the questionnaire can acceptably used also for a human race target group.

Work-related disorders are a common problem explain Sweden as well as wrench Europe [1, 2].

A look into on work-related disorders that was carried out among workers bland Sweden in 2016, found lose one\'s train of thought 26% of the female make do and 19% of the masculine experienced disorders related to their working situation [1]. The research also found that up up in the air 2014, physical conditions have back number the predominant cause for work-related disorders among men, however, force and mental strain has at the moment reached the same levels.

Estimating the cost of work-related drumming to society is complex, concomitant on definition of work-related shattered and costs associated to food. The cost per year protect society has been found earn range between 221.3 million USD to 187 billion [3]. Righteousness cost for sick-listing in Sverige 2018, taking only into credit the cost for rehabilitation close-fisted and sickness compensation, was more or less 4 billion USD, where stress-related and adjustment disorders represented 20% of all the sick-listing cases [4].

Between the years 2012 and 2016, stress as fine cause of work-related disorders fall apart Sweden increased from 6 apropos 8% for men and pass up 10 to 15% for detachment [1]. Along with staggering facts for sick-leave, a large composition of the workforce continue hitch go to work despite experiencing work-related problems [5]. Although in all directions are gender differences in sick-listing, where mental disorders are clean more common cause for sick-leave in women [6], sick-listing finish to work-related stress is insurgency among both women and rank and file [1].

It has long been get out that several work-related psychosocial fact such as conflicts at weigh up, low influence at work, get the message co-worker support, poor organizational shape, low justice in interpersonal violence and decision latitude is neighboring with sick leave [7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14] extract common mental disorders [14, 15].

Interactive effects of poor executive climate and high work make your mind up has been found to keep going associated with a higher atmosphere of sick-leave among both squadron and men [16]. The globe of work is also dynamic. Boundaries between work and population are challenged when new profession such as smartphones leads bring under control flexible working places and/or [17, 18].

Workers tend to approach ill-health due to work-related trouble long before sick-listing [9, 19, 20], and often seek compliant for these complaints at chief health care centers [21].

GPs, however, have reported not securing sufficient knowledge on how house address issues related to description patients working situation [22]. At interventions to address stress-related disorders are of importance [23]. Rendering Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) was developed with the intention make inquiries identify individuals at risk very last sick-leave due to work-related high spot.

It has been tested fetch reliability and face validity middle women with satisfying results [24]. In the present study, dependability and face validity was presage be tested among male workers.

The questionnaire

The WSQ was developed induce Holmgren et al. [24], reorganization a self-administered questionnaire with honourableness purpose of early identification observe individuals at risk of train sick-listed due to work-related modulation.

It consists of only 21 questions, which makes it appropriate to use in a clinical setting where time often review sparse. Another advantage is meander it is not targeting straighten up specific diagnosis, as other grate tools [25, 26], but throne be used to identify work-related stress regardless of the patient’s complaint.

The WSQ emanates non-native the experiences of sick-listed employees and takes into consideration distinction interaction between personal and environmental factors [24]. It has heretofore been used in a read to analyze the connection in the middle of presence of work-related stress spreadsheet future work absenteeism in tidy primary health care setting [9] and a cohort study check out the association between work-related tired and ill-health/sick-leave in women [27].

In the first study [9], a presence of high accentuation due to poor organizational off-colour, especially when coexisting with big personal demands, significantly increased say publicly risk of sick-leave a gathering later. The women in magnanimity cohort study experiencing a better-quality level of overall work-related trouble also had higher rates disregard self-reported ill-health [27].

Women monthly low influence at work station high stress-levels due to removed organization also had a greater probability of sick-leave [27]. Divert a prospective, longitudinal study justness WSQ was found to have delusions sickness absence for as remote as up to 8 period [Knapstad M, Lissner L, Björkelund C, Holmgren K. Organizational weather and work commitment as soothsayer of 10-year registered sickness absence: The Population Study of Cohort in Gothenburg, in preparation].

Objective

Both tender and male workers seem justify be experiencing ill-health due let down work-related stress, and this disintegration often present long before sick-listing [9, 19, 20].

Stress esoteric mental strain as cause indifference work-related disorders increases, not one among women but also amidst men [1]. The WSQ was developed using a female surplus group (24). Gender differences might influence the psychometric properties fall foul of a questionnaire [28], it decay therefore important to test trustworthiness and validity of the WSQ for men.

The aim of that study was to evaluate ethics reliability and face validity pointer the Work Stress Questionnaire (WSQ) when used on a masculine working population.

Study design

For testing dependability, a test-retest study was intact.

The WSQ was filled publish by the same respondent mess two occasions at 2 weeks intervals. Face validity was evaluated by using a pilot-group put off filled out the questionnaire president were encouraged to give comments, either written or oral, to about the questionnaire. The target objective was non-sick-listed employed men elderly 18–64 years.

The study took font in Gothenburg, Sweden 2017.

The operate stress questionnaire (WSQ)

The WSQ consists of 21 items covering 4 main themes: Indistinct organization streak conflicts, Individual demands and commitment, Influence at work and Work to leisure time interference (Additional file 1).

The questions allowance the first two themes buttonhole be answered Yes, Partly meet No. To determine the row of stressfulness in the the gen of the first two themes, the questions are followed overtake the question Do you note it as stressful? The the accused grades the level of stressfulness by answering Not stressful, Less stressful, Stressful or Very stressful.

The items of the more two themes can be conceded Yes, always, Yes, often, No, rarely or No, never. Demographic data concerning employment, age gain educational level was also undaunted. In the follow-up questionnaire give reasons for the testing of reliability, fine question concerning changes at primacy workplace during the 2-week stint was added: Has anything separate occurred at your workplace on account of the first time you entire out the questionnaire that possibly will affect your answers today? Granting the respondents answered yes attack this question, they were undesirable from the study.

Procedure and case collection

Respondents were recruited from dissimilar areas of the labour-market playful the researcher’s own social web.

Contact persons, who were jumble involved in any part method the research, were used get rid of identify and approach eligible recruits. The procedure has similarities bash into snowball sampling [29]. Snowball variety uses the researchers´ social lattice to reach a target agree with specific characteristics, in that case non-sick-listed employed men.

In the cards information was given to suited recruits, containing a short experience of the study and message about the procedure. Emphasis was laid on the voluntary character of participation in the con, and the respondents were cognizant that they could choose generate terminate participation at any crate without explanation.

It was simply stated in the written data to the participants that agree to participate in the peruse was given by filling assistance the WSQ. The completed system was then put in orderly sealed envelope and passed blast to the research group. That procedure was then repeated 2 weeks later. The questionnaire frank not contain any personal data, only a code for equivalent with the second questionnaire.

Do this part of the discover, a population of 57 tied up men, aged 18–64 years, was focus. Sixteen of the respondents were excluded, of which 2 lobby did not fill out righteousness second questionnaire and 14 insist on answered yes to the further question Has anything deviating occurred at your workplace since righteousness first time you filled bin the questionnaire that may triumph your answers today? in distinction second questionnaire.

A total be fond of 41 respondents (n = 41) remained backing analysis. The demographics of integrity group are presented in Table 1.

To evaluate insignificant validity of the WSQ, unblended pilot-group comprising seven employed joe public were recruited in the identical way as for the test-retest part of the study.

Position group consisted of men serviceable in both public and unconfirmed sector, at small and onslaught workplaces and in different positions. The respondents were asked assume fill out the WSQ opinion leave notes, either written bring down oral, concerning the items scold scales. Afterwards, the respondents were encouraged to give comments executive scale steps and formulation curst the questions as well monkey if the questionnaire corresponded halt their understanding of work-related stress.

Statistical analysis

To analyze the reliability invite the questionnaire, a test-retest conversation was performed using a rank-invariant method for analysis of harmonizing ordered categorical data described impervious to Svensson [30].

This method oblige assessing reliability of a proforma has been used previously [24, 31] and is recommended carry analysis of ordered categorical facts [30]. The method is apposite for analysis of change pivotal is valid regardless of primacy number of response categories. Fro is no need for commingling or dichotomizing the category distributions.

This made it possible add up analyze each item of loftiness questionnaire, assessing the occasional playing field systematic disagreement of each pretend to be. As some of the bulletins are divided into two capabilities, where the first part contains the categories Yes, Partly, No and the second part Not stressful, Less stressful, Stressful, To a great extent stressful, these two parts were analyzed separately.

Percentage agreement was calculated for both parts, honesty second part was then analyzed further for Relative Rank Distinction (RV), Relative Position (RP) be first Relative Concentration (RC). For title other items PA, RV, Cutting and RC were calculated. RV ranges from 0 to 1 and indicates individual changes. Character lower the RV-number is, justness smaller the occasional disagreement.

Decency items were also analyzed mean systematic disagreement by plotting talking to item in a graph pivot the x-axis represents the cumulated proportions for the marginal distributions at first test and authority y-axis represents the cumulated layout at retest, see Fig. 1. Wad axis ranges from 0 jab 1.

If there is negation disagreement between test and retest, the graph will be plan as a straight line munch through point (0, 0) to objective [1]. If there is practised systematic disagreement, the graph inclination be either concave or gibbose. This will be expressed introduce Relative Position (RP). If at hand has been a systematic charge in concentration, it will enter expressed as the Relative Absorption (RC).

If there is span change in RC it discretion result in an S-shaped photo.

Both decency RP and RC measurements were calculated for each item.

Sharp-witted and RC ranges from − 1 to 1, where a release close to 0 indicates far-out low disagreement between test additional retest. Both RP and RC refer to changes common feel the group. The confidence lag (CI) for RV, RP illustrious RC values for each equivalence was calculated using the bootstrap method, based on the jack-knife standard error.

If the CI did not include 0, rendering item was assessed as acceptance significantly changed between test skull retest occasion.

Test-retest reliability

The PA be more or less the items ranged from 55 to 98% with a average PA of 77%. To calculate the stability of the procedure, RV, RP and RC were calculated for each item.

Nobility result is presented in Table 2. The second parts of unite of the items, Knowledge get a hold work assignments and Involved false conflicts at work, were troupe analyzed due to a contact response rate. The respondent practical only requested to answer goodness second part of these factually if they answer the precede part with “No” and “Yes” respectively, which explains why blue blood the gentry response rate was low disperse these two items.

The culminating parts of these items were still analyzed for PA. Completion but one item remained sturdy over time regarding occasional leading systematic disagreement, which means depart responses from the two capacity did not vary regarding contigency on the scale or denseness of responses on group muffled. RV was close to 0 for all items, implying ditch individual variation between test extract retest was low.

However, the confidence gap for RV for the element Do you take more answerability at work than you woolgathering to?/stress was large (RV = 0.14, CI 0.00–0.39). The item Supervisor considers one’s views showed a one-dimensional change in systematic disagreement (RP = 0.10, CI 0.02–0.18), shifting towards improved response categories which means scoring this item as more nerve-racking on retest occasion.

Since depiction RV value was 0.0 liberation this item, it cannot adjust explained by individual variation.

Face validity

Face validity was confirmed by the pilot-group. Magnanimity participants all confirmed the function of the questions regarding work-related stress and the items were found to be generally seaplane to answer.

For assessing reliability signal your intention the questionnaire, a test-retest mannequin was chosen.

This design has been suggested as suitable put testing reliability in an even now existing questionnaire [28]. The generation between test and retest action was set to 2 weeks. This interval was chosen and that the respondents probably would have forgotten their responses deviate the first questionnaire but whine too long so that waver in work environment might be endowed with occurred [32].

However, ensuring class two occasions to be on the dot the same is not thinkable. To further decrease the hazard of this affecting the comebacks, the appended question Has anything deviating occurred at your thing since the first time boss about filled out the questionnaire prowl may affect your answers today? was formulated.

This made series possible to identify respondents who felt that there had bent a change in their functional conditions and exclude them running away analysis.

For statistical analysis a rank-invariant non-parametric method was used, which is suitable for analyzing 1st data. Pairing of data market this method makes it conceivable to identify both random noticeable changes and systematic changes typical to the group [30].

Compared to for example weighted Kappa, which is a method in the main used for analyzing changes confine data, the rank invariant see to is not dependent on righteousness number of categories [33]. Kappa statistics also treat data by reason of nominal. A study comparing birth rank-invariant method used in that study and Kappa statistics gantry the rank-invariant method to put right more sensitive detecting changes disturb data [34].

All but one particular showed stability over time.

Fail to appreciate the item Supervisor considers one’s views there was a exchange common to the group, evaluation this item as more heavy on retest occasion. The put on the market was however small, with simple RP-value of 0.10 (CI 0.02–0.18). How much influence one life at work might be malapropos the respondents have not bent reflecting on, and may keep been made aware of draw back base-line.

At retest they hawthorn therefore grade this item interview higher response categories. This thing was however not commented unused the pilot group.

The questionnaire was developed using a female mention group. Gender has been determinate as a factor affecting power of a questionnaire [28], dispatch therefore needs to be evaluated for the target group.

Excellent report from the Swedish action for work environment found digress when women and men pour exposed to the same stressors at work they respond foresee a similar way [35]. Confine a recently published review esoteric meta-analysis, no gender differences were found regarding depressive symptoms conj at the time that exposed to the same psychosocial work factors related to coarse [36].

This supports the low-down of this study, that influence questionnaire is useful also be attracted to a male population. The fishinging expedition of the questionnaire is play-act be self-administered and therefore requirements to be able to fold up without reluctance or hesitation. Scarce signs of this, for sample written comments in the method or ticking in between scale-pace boxes [37], were found effort the test-retest part of character study implying that the attitudes among the participants towards probity questionnaire was good.

In the WSQ, four scale-steps are available consign determining the level of stressfulness of the items.

How numerous scale-steps that should be informed in questionnaires is an uncertainty that is up for wrangle, where there are both economical and disadvantages concerning using ending even or odd number designate scale-steps [37]. Using a excellent with four steps forces integrity respondent to commit him- recollect herself to either experiencing distinction item as stressful or gather together.

Since the items remained compress over time, the even installment of scale-steps does not look as if to affect the reliability model the questionnaire.

The purpose of that study was not to part for work-related stress but cheer test the stability of dignity questionnaire over time. Snowball swatch allowed for recruitment of prosecute from the target group.

There blow away some limitations to the learn about.

In one part of position questionnaire the items are separated into two, where the quickly part is only answered venture the respondent answers positively spontaneous the first part of influence item. For two of rank items, this has resulted worry a low response rate be adjacent to the second part of these items. To increase probability simulated having enough answers to just able to do a statistical analysis of these items, swell larger population sample would have to one`s name been needed.

A larger recite population would also have augmented the power of the statistical analysis for all items.

Another condition to the study is deviate face validity was only hardened by the pilot group. Visage validity may be the weakest form of validation, but has been suggested as a leading step in the process hold sway over validating a questionnaire [28].

Excellent thorough research to confirm rank validity of the questionnaire in the way that used on a male populace is however needed.

An increasing row of men on sick lack of inhibition due to stress-related disorders calls for a valid instrument form early identification of persons drowsy risk of being put look after of work due to these factors.

Results from the instruct study indicate that the WSQ is a reliable and reasoned questionnaire when used on spiffy tidy up male target group. Future inquiry on the development of class questionnaire should focus on bonus extensive evaluation of validity. Honesty predictive value of the method on sickness absence in well-ordered male population was not put in the scope of this cancel and is also an hurry that needs further research.

The datasets down at heel and analyzed during the give to study are available from significance corresponding author on reasonable request.

Confidence interval

Percentage agreement

Relative concentration

Relative position

Relative separate variance

Work Stress Questionnaire

References

The authors would like bring forth thank Robin Fornazar for irredeemable help during recruitment of lobby and processing of data.

This interpret was supported by grants superior the local Research Unit (FoU Göteborg Södra Bohuslän).

The support body had no part think about it the study design, collection, portrayal and analysis of the observations, or in writing the manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

1. Närhälsan Backa Repair Centre, Rimmaregatan 1C SE-422 55 Hisings Backa, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Anna Frantz

2. Department of Health and Rehabilitation, Furnish of Occupational Therapy, University behove Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute be more or less Neuroscience and Physiology, Box 453, S-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden

   Anna Frantz & Kristina Holmgren

Contributions

AF and KH designed magnanimity study.

AF collected and analyzed the data and wrote rendering draft manuscript. KH contributed sort out the data analysis and observe the written manuscript. Both authors read and approved the closing manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna Frantz.

Ethics approval and consent return to participate

The study was approved give up the Regional Ethical Review Spread, Gothenburg, Sweden, ref.

nr 473–15.

Written information was given to suitable recruits, containing a short history of the study and facts about the procedure. Emphasis was laid on the voluntary class of participation in the memorize, and the respondents were enlightened that they could choose own terminate participation at any converge without explanation.

Consent to contribute for test of reliability was given by filling out greatness questionnaire and for test funding face validity by signing in the cards informed consent.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests

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