Stress vulnerability and feeding: a study in the work context
- Autores: Francieli Dalla Costa, Carla Rosane Paz Arruda Teo, Josiane Schadeck de Almeida
- Localización: Scientia Medica, ISSN-e 1980-6108, Vol. 25, Nº. 2, 2015
- Idioma: inglés
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Resumen
Aims: To analyze stress vulnerability in the work context and its effects on feeding.
Methods: Cross-sectional study of industrial workers from Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. The occupational stress vulnerability scale (OSVS) and a structured questionnaire were used as instruments. Six sociodemographic and occupational variables (age, sex, schooling, work shift, work sector/unit, duration of employment), level of stress vulnerability (according to the OSVS), in addition to five nutritional variables which took into account self-reported stress rather than the vulnerability evaluated by the OSVS were assessed. Student’s t test, Pearson’s chi-square test, and linear trend were used for data analysis, and statistical significance was set at 5% (p ≤ 0.05).
Results: A total of 309 industrial workers were assessed. The mean age was 30.9±10.1 years; 60.2% were women; 44.7% had attended high school; and 25.5% had finished elementary school. The median duration of employment was about 23 months (interquartile range of 7-57); 81.6% worked during the day, and 18.4% at night. The mean score of stress vulnerability was 22±11.6 points; 249 (80.6%) workers were classified at the lower levels of stress vulnerability and 60 (19.4%) at the upper ones. There was association between increased stress vulnerability according to the OSVS and self-reported changes in feeding (p = 0.028). The prevalence of high stress vulnerability increased (p = 0.034) with duration of employment (p = 0.034). Under self-reported stress, women had more hunger, changes in feeding, and preference for sweets (p <0.001).
Conclusions: The industrial workers showed prevalence of lower levels of stress vulnerability, with pressure at work representing the main stressor. Higher levels of stress vulnerability were associated with increased duration of employment as well as with the perception that work causes stress and interferes in feeding. The finding that, under a self-reported occupational stress condition, the prevalence of perceived change in feeding was higher among women, associated with increased hunger and preference for sweets, indicates a greater vulnerability of this group, with potential risks for health problems.
