WORKING CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO THE PRESENCE OF MINOR PSYCHIC DISORDERS IN NURSING WORKERS

Psychological demands and control are psychosocial dimensions of work that may generate high levels of stress in nursing work. This study evaluates the association between psychological demands and control in nursing work and the occurrence of minor psychic disorders among nursing workers. This transversal study includes 491 nursing workers from a university hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In order to evaluate the minor psychic disorders and the psychosocial dimensions, Brazilian versions of the Self-Report questionnaire-20 and the Job Content Questionnaire were used, during the period of March to September of 2006. An 18.7% prevalence of minor psychic disorders was observed. After adjustments for potentially confusing elements, the chance for minor psychic disorders was higher (OR=2.76; IC 95%: 1.21-6.27) in the high demand working quadrant when compared to workers in the low demand working quadrant. We consider it necessary to have organizational and participatory management which includes the workers in the process of changes and improvements in the working environment, mainly those that affect demands and control in work.