Stressful and low-paying jobs double the risk of heart disease in men
A similar correlation for women has not been established. The study is published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.Researchers from the University of Quebec studied the combined effects of job stress and low pay on cardiovascular health. The combined effect of job stress and an imbalance between effort and reward was similar to the effect of obesity on the risk of coronary heart disease in men. In women, the researchers found no significant correlations.
Researchers examined data from nearly 6,500 public servants (white-collar workers) from Canada. The sample included 3,118 men and 3,347 women from Quebec. The participants held managerial, professional, technical and office positions. The average age was about 45 years. Participants had no diagnosed heart disease at the start of the study. Researchers analyzed health data for 18 years, from 2000 to 2018.
Researchers analyzed cardiovascular disease data from the participants' medical records. In addition, all workers were regularly surveyed to assess work stress levels and pay imbalances.
The researchers categorized stressful conditions at work as high demands and limited opportunities for control. The former factor includes heavy workloads, tight deadlines and multiple responsibilities, while low control means that the employee has no say in decisions and how they accomplish their tasks.
Pay imbalance was determined based on respondents' self-assessment. It "occurs when employees put a great deal of effort into their work but perceive the rewards they receive in return - such as a salary or recognition - as insufficient or inappropriate for the effort expended," the researchers wrote.
Men who said they experienced either job stress or an imbalance of effort and reward had a 49% increased risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those who were satisfied with their pay and did not experience severe stress. Those who experienced both factors at once had double the risk.