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Choi, Lee, Song, Yoo, Shin, and Kim: Occupational Stress and MMPI-2 Profile of Workers in Some Plants Undergoing Labor Dispute
Original Article
Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2012; 24(4): 384-396.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjoem.2012.24.4.384

Occupational Stress and MMPI-2 Profile of Workers in Some Plants Undergoing Labor Dispute

Chang-Ki Choi, Chul-Gab Lee, Han-Soo Song, Sang-Kon Yoo, Seung-Yong Shin, Sul-Ha Kim

Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Korea.

Corresponding author (cglee@chosun.ac.kr)

Received 3 August 2012       Revised 25 October 2012       Accepted 25 October 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Abstract

Objectives

To identify changes in relationships with superiors or colleagues at work and family members and social networks at home, based on occupational stress and psychological characteristics in during the process of restructuring some plants undergoing a long-term labor dispute.

Methods

This study invested 213 workers involved in a long-term labor dispute using the KOSS (Korean Occupational Stress Scale) and the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and questionnaires. The KOSS and MMPI-2 scores in accordance with aggressiveness of trade union activity and changes in human relationships were compared. In addition, the odds ratio of whether there were differences in health behavior (perception of health status, smoking, alcohol abuse, medical treatment) and the absenteeism rate was calculated by logistic regression analysis.

Results

For members of the aggressiveness of trade union activity group, the rate at which the relationship between superiors or colleagues deteriorated was high, as was the total KOSS score, occupational system and lack of reward score of KOSS subclass. The depression subclass score of MMPI-2 was generally high, while the score of hypochondriasis, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, hypomania was high, and social introversion was low in the active group. In cases in which there were high score of psychopathic deviate, hypomania and paranoia, there were also signs of negative health behavior.

Conclusions

Occupational stress caused by a long-term labor dispute, accompanied with depression can result in an aggressive, hostile and vulnerable personalities and have a negative impact on health behavior.

Keywords: Occupational stress, MMPI-2, Labor dispute

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Hypothesis of occupational stress and MMPI-2 profile of workers in plants undergoing labor dispute.
kjoem-24-384-g001
Figure 2
T-score distribution and abnormal profile of MMPI-2.
*by MMPI-2 Korean manual.
†abnormal profile of MMPI-2 is more than T-score 65 in single or two-point code type.
Hs(1); Hypochondriasis, D(2); Depression, Hy(3); Hysteria, Pd(4); Psychopathic deviate, Mf(5); Masculinityfeminity(Mf), Pa(6); Paranoia, Pt(7);Psychasthenia, Sc(8); Schizophrenia, Ma(9); Hypomania, Si(0); Social introversion, TKOSS; total KOSS.
‡mean of total KOSS and MMPI-2 subclass.
KOSS; Korean occupational stress scale. MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
kjoem-24-384-g002
Table 1
General character of study subjects by union activity N(%)
kjoem-24-384-i001

p value by χ2-test

*active union activity ; strike, demonstration or attended union rally.

Table 2
Human relationship and health behavior change by union activity N(%)
kjoem-24-384-i002

p value by χ2-test

*active union activity ; strike, demonstration or attended union rally.

†repression; psychological repression of superior, such as swearword or verbal abuse, veiled threat to dismissal.

‡disciplinary action; dismissal, pay cutdown, suspension, punishment, position change etc.

§family relation; interrelation between couple, offspring or parent.

∥social network; interrelation between friend or neighborhood.

health status; health status is getting worse than last year.

**alcohol drinking; AUDIT(Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) score is more than 12.

Table 3
T-score difference of KOSS and MMPI-2 subclass by union activity Mean±SD
kjoem-24-384-i003

p value by t-test

*active union activity ; strike, demonstration or attended union rally.

KOSS; Korea Occupational Stress Scale, MMPI; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

Table 4
The difference of KOSS and MMPI-2 T-score by human relationship change Mean±SD
kjoem-24-384-i004

p value by t-test

*family relation; interrelation between couple, offspring or parent.

†social network; interrelation between friend or neighborhood.

KOSS; Korea Occupational Stress Scale, MMPI-2; Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

Table 5
Adjusted odds ratio of health behavior by total KOSS and MMPI-2
kjoem-24-384-i005

OR; Adjusted Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval for age, sex, marriage, education and working duration by logistic regression (reference group; KOSS T-score≤64, MMPI-2 subclass≤55).

*health status; health status is getting worse than last year.

†alcohol drinking ; AUDIT(Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) score is more than 12.

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