Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model

While epidemiological studies provide statistical evidence on associations of exposures such as stressful work with elevated risks of stress-related disorders (e.g., coronary heart disease or depression), additional information on biological pathways and biomarkers underlying these associations is r...

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Main Authors:	Johannes Siegrist, Jian Li
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2017-11-01
Series:	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:	effort-reward imbalance over-commitment biomarkers work stress narrative review
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/11/1373

id	doaj-efecfc71cf0b4d98876ca4c812608334
record_format	Article
spelling	doaj-efecfc71cf0b4d98876ca4c8126083342020-11-25T00:46:08ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012017-11-011411137310.3390/ijerph14111373ijerph14111373Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance ModelJohannes Siegrist0Jian Li1Life Science Centre, University of Düsseldorf, Merowingerplatz 1a, 40225 Düsseldorf, GermanyInstitute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, GermanyWhile epidemiological studies provide statistical evidence on associations of exposures such as stressful work with elevated risks of stress-related disorders (e.g., coronary heart disease or depression), additional information on biological pathways and biomarkers underlying these associations is required. In this contribution, we summarize the current state of the art on research findings linking stressful work, in terms of an established theoretical model—effort-reward imbalance—with a broad range of biomarkers. Based on structured electronic literature search and recent available systematic reviews, our synthesis of findings indicates that associations of work stress with heart rate variability, altered blood lipids, and risk of metabolic syndrome are rather consistent and robust. Significant relationships with blood pressure, heart rate, altered immune function and inflammation, cortisol release, and haemostatic biomarkers were also observed, but due to conflicting findings additional data will be needed to reach a firm conclusion. This narrative review of empirical evidence supports the argument that the biomarkers under study can act as mediators of epidemiologically established associations of work stress, as measured by effort–reward imbalance, with incident stress-related disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/11/1373effort-reward imbalanceover-commitmentbiomarkerswork stressnarrative review
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Johannes Siegrist Jian Li
spellingShingle	Johannes Siegrist Jian Li Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health effort-reward imbalance over-commitment biomarkers work stress narrative review
author_facet	Johannes Siegrist Jian Li
author_sort	Johannes Siegrist
title	Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model
title_short	Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model
title_full	Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model
title_fullStr	Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model
title_full_unstemmed	Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model
title_sort	work stress and altered biomarkers: a synthesis of findings based on the effort–reward imbalance model
publisher	MDPI AG
series	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn	1660-4601
publishDate	2017-11-01
description	While epidemiological studies provide statistical evidence on associations of exposures such as stressful work with elevated risks of stress-related disorders (e.g., coronary heart disease or depression), additional information on biological pathways and biomarkers underlying these associations is required. In this contribution, we summarize the current state of the art on research findings linking stressful work, in terms of an established theoretical model—effort-reward imbalance—with a broad range of biomarkers. Based on structured electronic literature search and recent available systematic reviews, our synthesis of findings indicates that associations of work stress with heart rate variability, altered blood lipids, and risk of metabolic syndrome are rather consistent and robust. Significant relationships with blood pressure, heart rate, altered immune function and inflammation, cortisol release, and haemostatic biomarkers were also observed, but due to conflicting findings additional data will be needed to reach a firm conclusion. This narrative review of empirical evidence supports the argument that the biomarkers under study can act as mediators of epidemiologically established associations of work stress, as measured by effort–reward imbalance, with incident stress-related disorders.
topic	effort-reward imbalance over-commitment biomarkers work stress narrative review
url	https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/11/1373
work_keys_str_mv	AT johannessiegrist workstressandalteredbiomarkersasynthesisoffindingsbasedontheeffortrewardimbalancemodel AT jianli workstressandalteredbiomarkersasynthesisoffindingsbasedontheeffortrewardimbalancemodel
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Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort–Reward Imbalance Model

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