Job Strain model and its relationship with health perceived in workers from a pharmaceutical Factory in Mexico

Introduction
The Job Strain Model (Demand-Control/Social Support) of Karasek has been studied all over the world with high success to predict the relationship between psychosocial factors at the workplace and health outcomes. In Mexico some of the studies about this model has been done in workers from Human Services Organizations, which doesn´t mean that workers from different occupations are exempt to deal with unfavorable conditions at their workplace. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Job Strain and its relation with health perceived in blue and white collar workers from a pharmaceutical factory in Mexico.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was carry out in a 112 sample of workers. To evaluate the variables we use the JCQ & GHQ both validated for Mexican population.

Results
We found a prevalence of 8.9% of workers whom perceive their job characterized for high strain, 59.8 % perceive it as active, 25% as low-strain job and 6.3% as a passive job. According to these four groups, we found a statistical significant difference in the perception of somatic symptoms and social dysfunction, being the group of high strain which obtained higher rates. To evaluate the relation between the psychosocial social factors and perception of health we used regression analyses. Somatic Symptoms was statistically predicted for Skill Discretion (β= -.309, p= .001), Sleep Disorders predictor was Social support from the supervisor (β= -.332, p= .000). Social Dysfunction was also predicted for Skill Discretion (β= -.292, p= .002) and Severe Depression was predicted by Decision Authority (β= -.340, p= .000).

Discussion
We conclude the best predictors’ related to mental health in this population was skill discretion, social support from the supervisor and decision authority, this is different from other studies. It is importantto consider personal variables and objective measures in in forward studies.