Korean J Occup Environ Med.
2005 Dec;17(4):297-317.
Developing an Occupational Stress Scale for Korean Employees
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University. chang@wonju.yonsei.ac.kr
- 2Department of Preventive and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine Pusan University.
- 3Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pochon CHA University, and Kumi Cha Hospital.
- 4Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine Chosun University.
- 5Department of Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine Chosun University.
- 6Korean Women's Development Institute.
- 7Department of Family Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine.
- 8Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicin, Kangwon National University
- 9Masan Samsung Hospital.
- 10Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje university.
- 11Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Donga University.
- 12Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Konkuk University.
- 13Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University.
- 14Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ajou University.
- 15Department of Neuropsychiatry and Stress Research Institute, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital.
- 16Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Eulji University.
- 17Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Woman's University.
- 18Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University.
- 19Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
- 20Department of Preventive Medicine and Industrial Medical Center, The Catholic University of Korea.
- 21Graduate School of Kangwon National University.
- 22Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University.
- 23Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University.
Abstract
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSES: Over the past three decades, numerous studies performed in Korea have reported that job stress is a determinant risk factor for chronic diseases and work disability. Every society has its own culture and occupational climate particular to their organizations, and hence experiences different occupational stress. An occupational stress measurement tool therefore needs to be developed to estimate it objectively. The purpose of this study is to develop and standardize the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) which is considered to be unique and specific occupational stressors in Korean employees. Subjects and
METHODS
Data were obtained from the National Study for Development and Standardization of Occupational Stress (NSDSOS Project: 2002-2004). A total of 12,631 employees from a nationwide sample proportional to the Korean Standard Industrial Classification and the Korean Standard Occupational Classification were administered. The KOSS was developed for 2 years (2002- 2004). In the first year, we collected 255 items from the most popular job stress measurement tools such as JCQ, ERI, NIOSH and OSI, and 44 items derived from the a qualitative study (depth interview). Fortythree items of KOSS, in the second year, were retained for use in the final version of the KOSS by using Delphi and factor analysis. Items were scored using conventional 1-2-3-4 Likert scores for the response categories.
RESULTS
We developed eight subscales by using factor analysis and validation process: physical environment (3 items), job demand (8 items), insufficient job control (5 items), interpersonal conflict (4 items), job insecurity (6 items), organizational system (7 items), lack of reward (6 items), and occupational climate (4 items). Together they explained 50.0% of total variance. Internal consistency alpha scores were ranged from 0.51 to 0.82. Twenty-four items of the short form of the KOSS (KOSS-SF) were also developed to estimate job stress in the work setting. Because the levels of the subscales of occupational stress were gender dependent, gender-specific standard norms for both the 43-item full version and the 24-item short form using a quartile for the subscales of KOSS were presented.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that KOSS might be an appropriate measurement scale to estimate occupational stress of Korean employees. Further and more detailed study needs to be conducted to improve the validity of this scale.
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