[Effect of stress and intesity of mobile phone using on the health and subjective symptoms in GSM workers].

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There are no available data on the health consequences that may result from the synergistic effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and stress. Understanding the mechanisms of the simultaneous exposure will make it possible to develop procedures to minimize adverse health effects in professionals using mobile phones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 600 randomly selected people to obtain data on their health status and the prevalence of subjective symptoms related to the mobile phones using. Among them, there were 208 GSM Network employees, to whom the Perceived Stress Scale and Assessment of Stress at Work Questionnaire were sent. Eighty-nine completed questionnaires were returned (response rate - 42.8%). RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 30.3 years (standard deviation (SD) = 7.7), time of occupational use of mobile phone - 4.1 years (SD = 1.7), the level of occupational stress - 95.3 (SD = 19.1). A significant percentage of people (62.8%) complained of the frequent difficulties in coping with problems of everyday life, and 57.4% had a fairly frequent problems with managing their own affairs. Significant differences in the life stress were detected between groups with different time of phone use (p = 0.03), and in occupational stress level, significant differences were noted between the 2 groups differing in the length of the conversation (p = 0.05). The risk of headache, associated (odds ratio (OR) = 4.2, p = 0.008) or not associated (OR = 2.97, p = 0.04) with calls on mobile phone, adjusted for stress, was significantly higher in people speaking via mobile more than 60 min/day than in those talking less. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates that both stressors acting at the same time (EMF from cell phone and stress) adversely affect the well-being of workers and increase the risk of subjective symptoms. Med Pr 2017;68(5):617-628.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Among 89 GSM network employees who returned questionnaires, stress levels differed by time of phone use and by conversation length. After adjustment for stress, the risk of headache (associated with calls: OR=4.2, p=0.008; not associated with calls: OR=2.97, p=0.04) was higher in those speaking via mobile phone >60 min/day compared with those talking less.

Outcomes measured

• Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale)
• Occupational stress (Assessment of Stress at Work Questionnaire)
• Subjective symptoms (including headache; headache associated or not associated with calls)
• Well-being (self-reported)

Limitations

• Questionnaire-based self-reported exposure and symptoms
• Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)
• Low response rate among GSM employees (42.8%)
• Small analyzed sample of GSM employees (n=89)

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.9)
  Study population is GSM network employees with occupational mobile phone use and stress assessment.

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile phone (occupational use)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "Occupational use duration mean 4.1 years; daily call duration compared (>60 min/day vs <60 min/day)"
    },
    "population": "GSM network employees/workers (subset of surveyed participants)",
    "sample_size": 89,
    "outcomes": [
        "Perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale)",
        "Occupational stress (Assessment of Stress at Work Questionnaire)",
        "Subjective symptoms (including headache; headache associated or not associated with calls)",
        "Well-being (self-reported)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Among 89 GSM network employees who returned questionnaires, stress levels differed by time of phone use and by conversation length. After adjustment for stress, the risk of headache (associated with calls: OR=4.2, p=0.008; not associated with calls: OR=2.97, p=0.04) was higher in those speaking via mobile phone >60 min/day compared with those talking less.",
    "effect_direction": "harm",
    "limitations": [
        "Questionnaire-based self-reported exposure and symptoms",
        "Cross-sectional design (cannot establish causality)",
        "Low response rate among GSM employees (42.8%)",
        "Small analyzed sample of GSM employees (n=89)"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "mobile phone",
        "RF EMF",
        "GSM workers",
        "occupational exposure",
        "stress",
        "headache",
        "subjective symptoms",
        "questionnaire",
        "Perceived Stress Scale"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study population is GSM network employees with occupational mobile phone use and stress assessment."
        }
    ]
}

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