Work-related stress and atopic dermatitis: Results from the study on occupational allergy risks

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Tobias Weinmann - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Felix Forster - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Katharina Hell - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Jessica Gerlich - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Laura Wengenroth - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Wolff Schlotz - , Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (Author)
  • Christian Vogelberg - , Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Erika von Mutius - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Dennis Nowak - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Katja Radon - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)

Abstract

Chronic stress at work is ubiquitous in modern societies. However, its influence on atopic dermatitis (AD) has hardly been investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the association between work-related stress and AD via a longitudinal study. The analysis comprised data from three phases (2002–2003, 2007–2009, 2017–2018) of the prospective Study on Occupational Allergy Risks (SOLAR), including 1,240 young adults aged 16 to 18 years at baseline (61% female) who were originally recruited for the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase II in 1995–1996. AD was assessed at all three phases based on self-reports of a physician’s diagnosis and symptoms. Work-related stress was measured at all three periods using the work discontent and work overload scales from the Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress with adaptions to school and university. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the association between stress and AD, treating work discontent and work overload first as continuous and then as categorical exposure variables. We observed 50 AD cases (4%) at SOLAR I, 48 (4%) at SOLAR II, and 42 (3%) at SOLAR III. A one-point increase in the work discontent score was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for AD of 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.10). The respective increase in the work overload score led to an OR of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.99–1.06). In the categorical analysis, there was no clear indication of elevated odds of AD in the highest vs. lowest exposure group (4th vs. 1st quartile: OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 0.92–2.53 for work discontent; OR, 1.38, 95% CI, 0.83–2.27 for work overload). Altogether, we observed limited to no evidence for an association between work-related stress and AD. Our study’s ability to detect stronger evidence may have been compromised by shortcomings such as nondifferential misclassification of the outcome or insufficient statistical precision due to small numbers of AD cases. Another explanation could be that AD predominantly becomes evident in childhood, not in adulthood.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)109-119
Number of pages11
Journal Journal of occupational and environmental hygiene
Volume20
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 36441057

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Atopy, chronic stress, eczema, itchy skin, occupational stress, skin disease, Prospective Studies, Humans, Male, Occupational Stress/epidemiology, Asthma, Young Adult, Female, Dermatitis, Atopic/epidemiology, Longitudinal Studies