The Science of Occupational Health: Stress, Psychobiology, and the New World of Work

Foreword Sir Michael Marmot, UCL

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction: History of Work and Health

General background and aim

Work and health from an evolutionary perspective

About this book

2 The New Workplace in a Rapidly Changing World

Global economy and global competition

Flexible organisations – flexible workers

Health consequences of ‘sickness presenteeism’

Rationalisation

Sources of stress at work

3 The New World of Work

Lean manufacturing and just-in-time production

Frequent restructuring

Lifelong learning, work and family-life balance

Long working hours and overtime

The role of modern communication technology and telecommuting: work without boundaries, or endless work

Diffuse distinction between work and other parts of life

The challenge for health and well-being in organisations in the future

A flexible workforce

4 Work as a Source of Stimulation and Health or a Cause of Distress and Illness

Work-related stress models

Justice

Positive and negative work

Job satisfaction

Workaholism

Type A behaviour

Job strain and heart disorder

Conclusion

5 Responses to Stress

Mind–body interaction

The neuroendocrine stress systems

The cardiovascular system

Coping with stress

Acute stress

Chronic stress

Short-term versus long-term stress

Importance of sleep

Allostatic load

Catabolic and anabolic processes

6 Stress-related Health Problems

Chronic fatigue, depression, burnout

Cardiovascular disorders

Immune function

Cognitive function

Obesity, diabetes – the metabolic syndrome

Musculoskeletal disorders

Ulcers

HIV, AIDS and cancer

When should I be worried?

How can any treatment be efficient?

7 Stress Hormones at Work

8 Socioeconomic Status and Health

9 Health Promotion

Health intervention, stress reduction

Managing stress in a changing workforce

Individual interventions

Healthy work

Mental capital and well-being

Interventions and policies

Physically risky jobs

Positive psychology

Restorative environments and recreation

Sleep

Physical activity

10 Gender Differences

Symptoms, health and life expectancy

Work tasks

Unpaid work and total workload

Children, women and stress

11 Preventive Strategies

Occupational hazards

Health promotion

Occupational conditions in Europe

Healthy work

SES and health

Work–life balance

What can we do to reduce stress?

Comments on preventive strategies

12 The Future Workplace from a Stress–Health Perspective

A changing world

Work and health

Stress, well-being and productivity

Demographic changes in Europe and Japan

Global issues

References

Index