NCJ Number
128285
Date Published
1990
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Social science and local workplace theories were integrated in this project to study alcohol use as a health practice influenced by both personal and environmental factors.
Abstract
A workplace survey of health care needs and risks yielded results with implications for preventing alcohol abuse at individual and environmental levels. These implications were converted into action plans submitted by work site committees to senior management to improve the workplace environment and health. The survey questionnaire dealt with needs and risks in relation to a wide range of health-related areas, such as exercise, sleep, eating, weight control, smoking, drinking, drug use, stress management, and blood pressure control. Two aspects of the environment were implicated in health maintenance: psychosocial and physical. Psychosocial issues mainly involved work stresses, including deadlines, schedules, unrealistic expectations, excessive supervision, poor performance feedback, communication problems, isolation, and discrimination. Physical issues mainly involved occupational health and safety conditions such as air quality, heat, light, noise, and space limitations. It was found that alcohol use is influenced by interactive pressures emanating from work and home, with heavy alcohol use more common among occupational groups whose members perceive they have little influence over work and health. In addition, heavy alcohol use is negatively associated with wellness through its partnership with smoking. 11 references