Effort-Reward Imbalance at Work and Self-Rated Health of Las Vegas Hotel Room Cleaners

Background This study investigates the relationship between effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) at work and self-rated health (SF-36) among 941 Las Vegas hotel room cleaners (99% female, 84% immigrant). Methods Logistic regression models adjust for age, health behaviors, physical workload and other potential confounders. Results 50% reported ERI and 60% poor or fair general health. Significant associations were found between ERI and all SF-36 health measures. Workers in the upper quartile of the efforts/rewards ratio were 2-5 times more likely to experience poor or lair general health, low physical function, high levels of pain, fatigue, and role limitations due to physical and mental health problems. Conclusions The cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation of these associations. However, the development of interventions to reduce ERI and to improve general health among room cleaners deserves high priority considering that both high ERI and low self-rated health have predicted chronic diseases and mortality in prospective studies. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:372-386, 2010. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.