Gender differences in self-reported physical and psychosocial exposures in jobs with both female and male workers

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to determine whether men and women with the same job are equally exposed to work-related physical and psychosocial risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints.

METHODS: Men (n = 491) and women (n = 342) in 8 jobs with both female and male workers completed a questionnaire on exposure to work-related risk factors. Gender, job title, and potential confounders were included in the final statistical models. Separate analyses were performed for desk workers and assembly workers.

RESULTS: For most risk factors gender differences in exposure were found. Among desk workers exposures were most often higher for women, which was the opposite for assembly workers.

CONCLUSIONS: Although exposure assessment relied on self-report, it seems unlikely that gender differences in reporting behavior completely explained gender differences in exposure. Thus, gender differences in exposure are present within the same job.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)244-52
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of occupational and environmental medicine
Volume47
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2005

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Confounding Factors (Epidemiology)
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Job Description
  • Male
  • Musculoskeletal System/injuries
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Occupational Health
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors

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