Basic research – Work, Stress, and Health

Insufficient workplace infection-control and clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors interact with poor self-rated health: a cross-sectional study among Japanese workers under COVID-19 crisis.

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

For the overall population health, it is necessary to understand the long-term health effects of COVID-19 exposure. We clarified whether workplace infection-control against COVID-19 and clustering of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors exert interactive effects on SRH among Japanese workers. We find that the risk of poor SRH was higher when people were exposed to insufficient workplace infection-control combined with a cluster of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.

The Effects of Chronic Thought Suppression on Post-Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity in Firefighters

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

Firefighter recruits through their first three years of service completed surveys measuring levels of thought suppression, PTSD symptoms, and exposure to potentially traumatic events. A secondary data analysis was conducted, and structural equation modeling revealed that, when controlling for trauma exposure, trait thought suppression correlated significantly with PTSD symptom severity. These results emphasize the importance of considering an individual’s tendency towards thought suppression as a complicating factor of firefighter PTSD severity.

Age Discrimination at Work: National Survey Data on Prevalence and Associations with Health and Well-Being, 2002-2018

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

As the workforce ages, interest has grown regarding the prevalence and possible impact of age discrimination at work. This study presents an analysis of data from a national survey in the United States in which worker-reported age discrimination was measured over a 16-year period. Findings indicated that the prevalence of workplace age discrimination remained fairly stable during this period, and that the experience of age discrimination was a significant predictor of several quality of work life measures.

Examining commuting experiences with a boundary theory lens: How work/home boundary management influences recovery via rumination during the commute

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

As the commute is the transition phase between work and home, this study examined whether one?s work/home boundary management contributes to whether they suffer versus benefit from their commute home from work. Using a daily diary design, this study showed that maintaining a weak family-to-work boundary hinders in-commute recovery from work and points to affective rumination during the commute home as the linking mechanism. These findings suggest that a stronger work/home boundary facilitates recovery from work during the commute home and protects commuters from harmful outcomes stemming from affective rumination.

NIOSH Chronic Disease Prevention Program: Expanding Partnerships to Prevent Occupational Disease

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

This presentation provides information on the mission and function of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health?s (NIOSH?s) Cancer, Reproductive, Cardiovascular and Other Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CRC). The poster will describe current research priorities related to reducing and preventing occupational chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, renal diseases, and neurological diseases as well as adverse reproductive outcomes. Collaboration with researchers, labor unions, professional and trade associations, and others is critical to the CRC and this poster will help to promote partnerships external to NIOSH.

NIOSH Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities Program

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The TWU program collaborates with partners to identify relevant research and to help disseminate research findings and translate them into practice. The program publishes research in scientific journals and translates findings into materials that can be used by a variety of partners and stakeholders to improve the safety, health, and well-being of TWU workers. Products include scientific journal articles, fact sheets, blogs, infographics, and social media messages.

Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The vision of the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest is to create a safe, healthy, and productive workforce through basic and applied research, participatory approaches, and theory driven education and translation activities. The HWC is a collaboration which includes the University of Iowa, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Kansas Medical Center, WorkWell KS, and two NIOSH Total Worker Health? Affiliates (the Nebraska Safety Council and the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition).

NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Program: Work, Stress, and Health

November 13, 2021November 12, 2021

The NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Program (AgFF) provides leadership and coordination between intra- and extramural efforts nationwide to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses among the nation?s agricultural, forestry, and fishing workers (AgFF). AgFF workers are exposed to high-risk, unpredictable environments, as well as long hours and shift work. Likewise, the majority of AgFF workers are in non-standard work arrangements, and unlike many sectors, most AgFF workers are specifically exempted in many regulatory policies regarding minimum wage, overtime, maximum hours per shift, child labor, and health and safety enforcement. This poster will highlight the NIOSH AgFF Program?s recent and future research, training, and outreach initiatives related to mental health and stress, sleep deprivation and fatigue, aging, workplace violence, non-standard work arrangements, and health equity in order to improve the overall health of all AgFF workers.

Robotics Safety and Health Research at the NIOSH Center for Occupational Robotics Research

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Extensive research has been conducted by NIOSH and others on the safety of robots since they were first introduced to workplaces more than 40 years ago. However, this research focused on traditional robots that were isolated from human workers using guards, cages, or other controls. As robots have become more advanced, interactions with humans have become more common, and new ways of assessing and controlling the hazards associated with a robotic workplace are needed. The Center for Occupational Robotics Research (CORR) was established in 2017 as a virtual center within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to work in partnership with other federal agencies, academic researchers, employers, and others to conduct research and disseminate guidance on the safety and health concerns of working around robots.

Changes in Job Demands and Resources for Fire-Based First Responders due to COVID-19

November 12, 2021November 12, 2021

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. fire service personnel have reported increased physical and mental demands. The purpose of this study is to dive deeper into the experiences of the US fire service and examine these demands and identify resources to mitigate imbalance. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen US fire departments illuminated additional job demands and potential resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although preliminary findings indicate more discussion surrounding resources compared to demands, further analysis is needed to identify key themes in the data.