Effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment at work are associated with painful menstruation: results from the Hungarostudy Epidemiological Panel 2006.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the relationship between work stress, defined according to the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model, and painful menstruation.

METHODS

Data of 821 pre-menopausal and not pregnant working women from the Hungarostudy Epidemiological Panel 2006 were analyzed. The association between work stress and dysmenorrhoea was investigated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

After controlling for age, occupational class, own and mother's education, marital status, parity, unsuccessfully trying to conceive for at least 1 year, previous miscarriage, smoking, body-mass index, physical activity and depressive symptoms effort-reward imbalance and overcommitment were associated with an increased risk of menstrual pain (OR [95% CI]: 1.42 [1.03 to 1.94] and 1.07 [1.02 to 1.13], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

We found work stress to be associated with dysmenorrhoea. The relationship between work-related psychosocial factors and painful menstruation needs to be further investigated to determine factors that may explain this association.