J Korean Med Sci.  2016 Jul;31(7):1042-1048. 10.3346/jkms.2016.31.7.1042.

Does High Emotional Demand with Low Job Control Relate to Suicidal Ideation among Service and Sales Workers in Korea?

• Yoon JH
• Jeung D
• Chang SJ

• KMID: 2373721
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2016.31.7.1042

Abstract

We examined the relationship of high emotional demands and low job control to suicidal ideation among service and sales workers in Korea. A total of 1,995 service and sales workers participated in this study. Suicidal ideation and level of emotional demand and job control were assessed by self-reported questionnaire in 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Gender-specific odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for suicidal ideation were calculated using logistic regression analysis. The results show that workers who suffered from high emotional demands (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.24-3.45 in men, OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.42-2.75 in women) or low job control (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.42-2.75 in men, OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.91-1.93 in women) were more likely to experience suicidal ideation after controlling for age, household income, and employment characteristics. The interaction model of emotional demands and job control revealed that workers with high emotional demands and high job control (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.08-3.45 in men, OR, 1.60; 95% CI,1.06-2.42 in women) and high emotional demands and low job control (OR; 4.60, 95% CI;1.88-11.29 in men, OR; 2.78, 95% CI;1.64-4.44 in women) had a higher risk for suicidal ideation compared to those with low emotional demands and high job control after controlling for age, household income, employment characteristics, smoking, alcohol drinking and physical activity habit. These results suggest that high emotional demands in both genders and low job control in men might play a crucial role in developing suicidal ideation among sales and service workers in Korea.

Keyword

Emotional Demands; Job Control; Sales Worker; Service Worker; Suicidal Ideation

MeSH Terms

Adult
Emotions/*physiology
Employment/economics/*psychology
Female
Humans
Income
Job Satisfaction
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors
*Suicidal Ideation
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Prevalence (%) of suicidal ideation for high emotional demands with low job control.

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