[Are television cameramen and sound operators overstressed?].

Sickness absences occurred between 1975 and 1977 among 29 cameramen and sound operators of the Swiss Television Corporation (in French language) in charge of outside reports have been compared with both those of a control group working in TV studio and with those of the staff of the Federal Administration. No significant difference was found between these three groups as regards absences for illnesses and injuries lasting one to three days and for injuries lasting more than three days. On the other hand, illnesses of more than three days were significantly more frequent among the cameramen and sound operators. This was mainly due to a very high rate of psychosomatic diseases and nervous breakdown. This difference has been attributed rather to professional fag than to attraction to these professions of more vulnerable people.