Impact of Stress on Subway Station Workers’ Health Concern and Dietary Behavior in the Seoul Metro

Abstract

This study examined the effects of job stress on the dietary habits of subway station personnel experiencing a high level of stress. The participants were 209 subway station workers who completed a survey as part of the baseline data collection. The questionnaire consisted of general items and questions regarding their health concerns and lifestyle, dietary habits and behaviors, diet practice, and job stress. The general characteristics of the subjects and their dietary habits in relation to job stress, vegetative behavior, and practice of dietary guidelines were assessed by χ2 analysis or ANOVA. The most stressful aspects of the job were related to organizational culture and compensation. In the high stress group, the frequency of coffee ingestion and junk food consumption were significantly higher than in the other groups (p<0.05). Nine out of the 21 Korean dietary action guides were related to the job stress level, including eating a variety of foods, eating less fat, maintaining a balanced diet, and trying to exercise (p<0.05). In the case of the high stress group, there is a high possibility of developing an undesirable eating habit, that can cause health problems. Therefore, it will be necessary to implement education and publicity programs on the proper management of eating habits, together with stress control measures, for occupational groups with high stress intensity such as station workers.