Detection of health complaints from the occupational psychologic viewpoint--experiences with the use of the Complaint Questionnaire in female workers
Schnabel, G.; Metz, A.M.
Zeitschrift für die Gesamte Hygiene und ihre Grenzgebiete 31(4): 209-211
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0049-8610 PMID: 4013427 Document Number: 244627
No special method is suitable for the recording and evaluating of work-related physical and psychological complaints. For want of a better method a screening test developed for the diagnosis (a questionnaire of complaints) is in use. The data obtained from 770 female workers were analyzed regarding the relationship between complaints and working conditions and work-related stress, respectively. The results were compared with results gathered from different samples of patients. There are more complaints in workers with higher levels of stress. Certain symptoms are more frequent in the highly stressed workers than in females with comparable job demands but lower levels of stress. There is the risk of overestimating the rate of neurotic tendencies in samples with dominantly work-related physical complaints. Taking into account the possible work-related origin of complaints a special questionnaire is needed. This method, too, should be suitable to gain references for preventive measures.