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Biomedical subjects

V Borg

Publications and source records attributed to V Borg.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Work-related stressors, depression and quality of life in Danish managers.

BACKGROUND: By use of valid questionnaires to investigate work-related stress and distress in Danish managers. METHODS: The survey focused on members of the Danish Association of Managers and Executives who no longer were active (former managers' group). Acting managers (active managers' group) served as controls. Questionnaires measuring stressors at work and general life events were used. For the measurement of distress, scales for depression and quality of life were used. RESULTS: The Mokken analysis proved the validity of the questionnaires, i.e. their summed-up total scores were sufficient statistics. No differences were found between former (n = 1,256) and active managers (n = 942) as to life events. Approximately 20% of former managers were at risk of depression and 12% had developed major depression. Among the specific work-related stressors were role overload, lack of team spirit and lack of social support. The percentage of active managers at risk of or suffering from major depression did not differ significantly from the Danish general population. Approximately 37% of the former managers had a decreased well-being. Alcohol use was found to be significantly associated with depression. CONCLUSION: The study identified specific work-related stressors in managers, 12% of whom developed a major depression.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

Muscle activity and cardiovascular response during computer-mouse work with and without memory demands.

Computer-mouse work is characterized by repetitive movements combined with mental demands. The present purpose was to study how the body responded to simulated Computer Aided Design (CAD) work without memory demand and when a high short-term memory demand was introduced. Nine female subjects repetitively performed a task which involved 15 s of elevation of the right index and middle fingers followed by 6 s of rest. Every second time the fingers rested, the left index finger was required to type a six-figure number, either '123456' (without memory demand) or a random number shown half a minute before (with memory demand). After 7 min of performing the task without memory demand, the memory demand was introduced and continued for 1 h. Introduction of memory demand resulted in increased heart rate (77-->84 beats/min), blood pressure (systolic 129-->140 mmHg; diastolic 72-->79 mmHg) and forearm extensor muscle activity (wrist, 2.7-->4.5% EMGmax; finger, 5.6-->7.5% EMGmax) and finger flexor muscle activity (0.7-->1.2% EMGmax) indicating increased co-contraction. Hereafter, muscle activity and cardiovascular response tended to decrease. Self-reported stress and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for the right shoulder increased throughout the period. Two additional sub-studies were inlcuded, which focused on adaptation to the physical load, showing a decrease in muscle activity and arousal, and reintroduction of the memory load, showing a lower response as compared to the initial response. The practical consequences of the findings suggest that job content should have variable mental demands.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Social class and self-rated health: can the gradient be explained by differences in life style or work environment?

The purpose of the present paper is to describe differences in work environment and life style factors between social classes in Denmark and to investigate to what extent these factors can explain social class differences with regard to changes in self-rated health (SRH) over a 5 year period. We used data from a prospective study of a random sample of 5001 Danish employees, 18-59 years of age, interviewed at baseline in 1990 and again in 1995. At baseline we found higher prevalence in the lower classes of repetitive work, low skill discretion, low influence at work, high job insecurity, and ergonomic, physical, chemical, and climatic exposures. High psychological demands and conflicts at work were more prevalent in the higher classes. With regard to life style factors, we found more obese people and more smokers among the lower classes. The proportion with poor SRH increased with decreasing social class at baseline. The follow-up analyses showed a clear association between social class and worsening of SRH: The lower the social class, the higher the proportion with deterioration of SRH. There was no social gradient with regard to improved SRH over time. Approximately two thirds of the social gradient with regard to worsening of SRH could be explained by the work environment and life style factors. The largest contribution came from the work environment factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Job demands, muscle activity and musculoskeletal symptoms in relation to work with the computer mouse.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed work postures, movements, psychosocial job demands, and shoulder and wrist extensor muscle activity and registered the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms of computer-aided design (CAD) operators. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was used to study the use of the computer mouse, psychosocial work factors, and musculoskeletal symptoms among 149 CAD operators. A workplace study was performed using observations, electrogoniometers on the wrists, and electromyography to measure exposures and physiological responses during CAD work among a subgroup of the CAD operators. RESULTS: Musculoskeletal symptoms were far more prevalent for the arm or hand operating the mouse than for the other arm or hand, and women were more affected than men. The symptoms may be related to such risk factors as repetitive movements, static postures (eg, ulnar-deviated and extended wrist on the mouse side), and static muscular activation patterns. The risk factors were present due to continuous mouse use and possibly also due to high demands for mental attentiveness, precision, and information processing. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure during work with a computer mouse may present a risk for developing musculoskeletal symptoms. Improvements should focus on introducing more variation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Sex differences in pathological gambling using gaming machines.

With recent introduction of poker machines in Australia, there have been claims of increases in the number of women with gambling-related problems. Research in the United States indicates, however, that men have a higher incidence of pathological gambling. The aims of this study were to ascertain among game machine users in a major city in Australia whether (a) more women than men exhibited symptoms of pathological gambling, (b) women reported higher guilt associated with their gambling, and (c) gamblers' self-assessment on several mood states was predictive of pathological gambling. A modified version of the South Oaks Gambling Screen was administered to 104 users of game machines (44 men, 60 women) sampled from patrons at gaming venues in Melbourne, Australia. Data indicated no significant sex difference in the proportion of pathological gamblers or in gambling-related guilt. Self-assessment of Happiness, Propensity for Boredom, and Loneliness, significantly predicted scores on the South Oaks Gambling Screen, with Unhappiness a significant independent predictor of pathological gambling. This may suggest that gambling acts to fill a need in the lives of unhappy people or that individuals who lack control over their gambling report higher unhappiness. Further research is needed to discover this relationship.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1996

Psychosocial and physical risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, shoulders, and lower back in salespeople.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the association between symptoms from the musculoskeletal system and many psychosocial and other physical stressors in the job demand-control-support model. Also to analyse the influence of personality characteristics. METHODS: 1306 salespeople answered a self administered questionnaire on job characteristics, exposures, personality characteristics, social network, smoking and drinking habits, and symptoms of the neck, shoulders, and low back. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, high job demands were related to neck and shoulder symptoms (ORs 1.43-1.47 in the highest exposure groups compared with the lowest), and tendency to become overworked and lack of social support from colleagues were related to back pain (OR 1.81-2.04 in the highest exposure groups compared with the lowest). Lack of variation in the job, low control over time, and high competition were related to neck symptoms, but there was an interaction so that both low control over time and high competition had to be present to increase the OR. Also, driving long distances and sedentary work were related to neck and low back pain, and time spent in the car to shoulder pain (ORs 1.64-2.80 in the three highest groups v the lowest exposure groups). CONCLUSION: Both psychosocial and physical factors were associated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Many dimensions of the demand-control-support model were associated with symptoms. Only one personality characteristic, tendency to feel overworked, significantly influenced the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Bromocriptine in the prevention of alcohol abuse.

In a double-blind trial comprising 50 chronic alcoholics, randomized in two parallel groups, bromocriptine was compared with placebo on psycho-social variables in the prevention of alcohol abuse for 6 months. The overall effects on the abuse situation, social functioning, social belonging and psychic status were significantly bettered by bromocriptine. Craving was reduced from strong to very mild, indicating a distancing effect of bromocriptine on dependency. Neurotic states and depressive reactions were significantly improved by bromocriptine, as were social situation, motivation and personal insight. Global evaluation of bromocriptine treatment was beneficial in most patients, with a substantial reduction in the number of patients abusing alcohol. Our results indicate that bromocriptine may affect the craving.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Bromocriptine in the treatment of the alcohol-withdrawal syndrome.

A 10-day random double-blind study on the effect of bromocriptine versus placebo in severe alcohol-withdrawal symptoms was conducted in 60 alcoholics. The effect of bromocriptine--a dopamine agonist--was significantly better than placebo in ameliorating the following symptoms: anxiety, restlessness, depression, tremor, sweating and nausea as well as the total score of these symptoms. Also in the evaluation of specific symptoms according to a symptom check list of psychiatric, behavioural and social aspects, and in a global evaluation, bromocriptine was clearly superior to placebo. Serum prolactin studied on the first and tenth day of the survey showed a significant increase occurring in the placebo-treated patients. Side effects related to the use of bromocriptine were negligible. Our findings support recent experimental evidence that alcohol-withdrawal symptoms, at least in part, are related to a transient dopaminergic dysfunction in the brain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Work environment and self-rated health as predictors of remaining in work 5 years later among Danish employees 35-59 years of age.

In 1990, a random sample of employees (1674 males and 1646 females) in Denmark between 35 and 59 years of age were interviewed about their psychosocial work environment, health, and job satisfaction. In 1995, the cohort was interviewed again regarding present employment status. Predictors from the 1990 interview for remaining in work in 1995 were identified by gender. After controlling for age, very good self-rated health and high development possibilities were found to be independent predictors for remaining in work among males. Among females the predictors were very good self-rated health, high development possibilities, high decision authority, medium level social support and absence of musculoskeletal problems in the knees. In the two extreme 10% risk groups, the "risk" of remaining in work was 58% and 81%, respectively, for males, and 46% and 82% for females.

Adult↗