Influences of work-style and lifestyle factors on psychosomatic symptoms: a twin study

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21592872
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Community health/Gerontological nurisng
• Research Institution: Kobe City College of Nursing (2012-2013); Osaka University (2011); Senri Kinran University (2010); International University of Health and Welfare (2009)
• Principal Investigator: KATO Kenji 神戸市看護大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (70458404)
• Research Collaborator: Osaka Twin Research Group Osaka Twin Research Group
• Project Period (FY): 2009-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 双生児研究 / ライフスタイル / ワークスタイル / 職業性ストレス / 慢性疲労

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To examine the influences of work-style and lifestyle on chronic fatigue, questionnaire surveys were conducted using adult twins based on a Japanese twin registry. Using twin pairs as cases and controls, a crude association can be adjusted for genetic and shared environmental factors. Work-styles measured in this study were: the pattern of employment (e.g. permanent or temporary), working hours, shiftwork and nightwork, workload, and the presence or absence of discretion in making decisions. Chronic fatigue was measured using Chalder Fatigue Scale. We found that neither shiftwork nor nightwork had association with chronic fatigue, whereas overwork had significant association with chronic fatigue even after adjustment. As to discretion, those who could use their discretion showed lower Chalder Fatigue Scale scores. In summary, our findings may imply that overwork has direct influences on chronic fatigue, and that the presence of discretion prevents or mitigates chnonic fatigue.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生学、健康科学