Researchers from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, St. Michael’s Hospital, and the University of Toronto examined the relationships, based on OHIP data, between the psychosocial environment of work and the incidence of diabetes in 7,443 men and women, aged 35 to 60 years, over a 9-year follow-up period.
19% of cases of diabetes in women are associated with stress : After adjustment for factors such as the level of activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, etc. the authors find that the absence of task control and autonomy at work are associated with an increased risk diabetes in women, but not in men.
Thus, 19% of cases of diabetes in women are associated with stress. No relationship is found between psychosocial factor at work and risk of diabetes in men, who therefore seem to react differently to stress.
Finally, a high level of support at work is also associated, always in women with an increased risk of diabetes.
The study does not specify why women are more at risk of diabetes with stress at work but the authors cite different physiological and behavioral responses to stress and the types of jobs held. “Hormonal” explanations are also mentioned, adrenaline and cortisol can have an impact on the metabolism of sugars and fats, and therefore on the risk ofobesity and type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Richard Glazier, lead author of the study concludes that the level of control and autonomy given to employees over their jobs which contributes to greater job satisfaction and reduced stress could help decrease the incidence of diabetes. , linked to these occupational health factors, in women.
