An overview was made of the extensive research literature reporting on psychometric approaches to measuring occupational stress and strain. Several categories of concepts central to this research area were identified including stressors in the job itself, those related to the organization of the work, those due to changes in work conditions, and major categories of nonwork stressors. Psychosocial components of work strain were identified, both those expressed in terms of the job such as burnout, and more general affective reactions, such as depression and fatigue. Aspects of the work environment were identified along with other classes of intervening variables which may modify the nature and intensity of the relation of work stressors to expressed strain and of both stressors and strain to more definite health outcomes. Scales, tests, and other measures of these central concepts were then identified. A reasonable number of measures of work stressors, job satisfaction, and general and specific measures of strain and distress were found which have good reliability and the beginnings of evidence for validity. The authors suggest that use be made of a range of data sources beyond self report both as independent variables and validating criteria. Stress research should be extended to occupational groups not hitherto adequately studied such as blue collar workers and ethnic minorities.
Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, NIOSH Purchase Order Report No. 84-2756, 121 pages, 456 references
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