How to Identify and Prioritize Psychosocial Factors Impacting Stress Level

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 15;11(6):e0157078. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157078. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

We develop a methodological approach to identify and prioritize psychosocial factors (stressors) requiring priority action to reduce stress levels. Data analysis was carried out on a random sample of 10 000 French employees who completed, during a routine interview with the occupational physician, a 25-item questionnaire about stress levels, as well as a questionnaire about 58 stressors grouped into 5 latent variables: job control, job context, relationships at work, tasks performed and recognition. Our method combines Importance-Performance Analysis, a valuable approach for prioritizing improvements in the quality of services, with Partial Least Squares-Path modeling, a Structural Equation Modeling approach widely applied in psychosocial research. Findings on our data suggest two areas worthy of attention: one with five stressors on which decision makers should concentrate, and another with five stressors that managers should leave alone when acting to reduce stress levels. We show that IPA is robust when answers to questions are dichotomized, as opposed to the initial 6-point Likert scale. We believe that our approach will be a useful tool for experts and decision-makers in the field of stress management and prevention.

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Linear Models
  • Models, Psychological
  • Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
  • Occupational Diseases / psychology
  • Occupational Health*
  • Risk Factors
  • Social Environment*
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*
  • Workplace / psychology*

Grants and funding

The authors and the research laboratories MESuRS and CEDRIC of Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (CNAM) have no support or funding for this work. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. The coauthor Dr Patrick Légeron is the scientific director of Stimulus. Stimulus did not play a role in the study design, data analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.