Effort-Reward Imbalance and its Association with Health among Pluckers in a Tea Plantation in South India.

CONTEXT

Work-related stress is associated with cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, psychological ailments, and work-related injuries. Imbalance between high effort and low reward at work can lead to work stress among plantation workers.

AIMS

To assess the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) among pluckers in tea plantations in South India and its association on chronic health problems, substance abuses, and workplace injuries.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 tea pluckers from May to June 2015 in six selected tea plantations in Anamalai, South India.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A short version of ERI questionnaire was used to assess the work-related stress among them. Along with ERI questionnaire, sociodemographic details, chronic diseases, substance abuses, and workplace injuries were ascertained.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Sociodemographic variables were described as frequency and measures of central tendency. Tests of association, such as Chi-square test, were applied.

RESULTS

Among the study population, 322 (93.1%) reported more effort, 23 (6.6%) reported more reward, and one (0.3%) had no imbalance between effort and reward. Those in older age group (≥51 years) experienced more effort compared to those in younger age group (≤50 years) (Fisher's exact = 21.905, = 0.001). Educational status (Fisher's exact = 15.639, = 0.027) and work experience (Fisher's exact = 23.122, = 0.003) increased the effort rather than increasing the reward associated with work. No significant association was found between ERI and any chronic diseases, substance abuses, or injuries.

CONCLUSIONS

Majority of pluckers in tea plantation experienced more effort compared to reward.