We evaluated the association between job stress and alexithymic traits in Korean workers.

Workers (n=521) who visited two university hospitals for medical check-ups were recruited for this study. Job stress was evaluated using the Korean version of Karasek's Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), and alexithymic traits were assessed using the Korean version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20K). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of job stress scales (job strain, job insecurity, and job dissatisfaction) with alexithymic traits(total TAS score > or =52) were calculated.

High job strain compared with low strain had a high, but insignificant association with alexithymic traits (adjusted OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 0.93–5.44). High job insecurity (adjusted OR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.21–4.22), and high job dissatisfaction (adjusted OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.06–3.74) had significant associations with alexithymic traits.

This study suggests that job stress is associated with alexithymic traits in workers.