High job control enhances vagal recovery in media work

• Published in: Occupational medicine (Oxford) Vol. 59; no. 8; pp. 570 - 573
• Main Authors: Lindholm, Harri, Sinisalo, Juha, Ahlberg, Jari, Jahkola, Antti, Partinen, Markku, Hublin, Christer, Savolainen, Aslak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-12-2009
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Autonomic nervous system; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cohort Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Finland; Heart; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Internal-External Control; Job Satisfaction; Journalism; Male; media work; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Occupational medicine; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; recovery; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Vagus Nerve - physiology; Europe; Finland; media work; Autonomic nervous system; recovery; Human; Arrhythmia; Decision making; Cardiovascular disease; Heart disease; Journalism; Occupational responsibility; Circulatory system; Mass media; Professional activity
• ISSN: 0962-7480; 1471-8405
• DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqp141

Background Job strain has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In modern media work, time pressures, rapidly changing situations, computer work and irregular working hours are common. Heart rate variability (HRV) has been widely used to monitor sympathovagal balance. Autonomic imbalance may play an additive role in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Aims To study the effects of work demands and job control on the autonomic nervous system recovery among the media personnel. Methods From the cross-sectional postal survey of the employees in Finnish Broadcasting Company (n = 874), three age cohorts (n = 132) were randomly selected for an analysis of HRV in 24 h electrocardiography recordings. Results In the middle-aged group, those who experienced high job control had significantly better vagal recovery than those with low or moderate control (P < 0.01). Among young and ageing employees, job control did not associate with autonomic recovery. Conclusions High job control over work rather than low demands seemed to enhance autonomic recovery in middle-aged media workers. This was independent of poor health habits such as smoking, physical inactivity or alcohol consumption.