Skip to main content

National Status of Psychosocial Factors at Work in Japan, Korea, Australia, and China

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Psychosocial Factors at Work in the Asia Pacific

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the status of psychosocial factors and how they are addressed at a national level in several Asia Pacific countries, Japan, Korea, Australia, and China. The chapter considers national legislation, frameworks, and prevalence of psychological disorders at work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders – DSM-IV-TR (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011, August). Employee earnings, benefits and trade union membership. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6310.0main+features3August%202011

  • Australian Government Productivity Commission. (2010). Performance benchmarking of Australian business regulation: Occupational health & safety (Research Report). Canberra: Australian Government Productivity Commission.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, T. S., & Dollard, M. F. (2014). Prevalence, antecedents and implications of workplace bullying and harassment in Australia. In M. F. Dollard & T. S. Bailey (Eds.), The Australian Workplace Barometer: Psychosocial safety climate and working conditions in Australia. Australian Academic Press, Samford Valley, Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caulfield, N., Chang, D., Dollard, M. F., & Elshaug, C. (2004). A review of occupational stress interventions in Australia. International Journal of Stress Management, 11(2), 149–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, Y., Park, J., Kim, Y., & Kawakami, N. (2012). The recognition of occupational diseases attributed to heavy workloads: Experiences in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 85, 791–799.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, J. (2008). Job stress assessment methods and its health effect at early stage. Shanghai: Fudan University Press (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai, J., Yu, H., Wu, J., & Fu, H. (2007). Stress assessment model based on a simple job stress questionnaire in Chinese. Fudan University Journal of Medicine Science, 34, 656–661 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai, J., Collins, S., Yu, H., & Fu, H. (2008). Combining job stress models in predicting burnout by hierarchical multiple regressions: A cross-sectional investigation in Shanghai. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 50(7), 785–790.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, J., Yu, H., & Fu, H. (2010). Analysis the association between different factors of job stress and depressive symptom. Hygiene Research, 39, 342–346 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, J., Woodman, D., Strazdins, L., Banwell, C., Broom, D., & Burgess, J. (2013). Flexible employment, flexible eating and health risks. Critical Public Health, (ahead-of-print), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F. (2012). Psychosocial safety climate: A lead indicator of workplace psychological health and engagement and a precursor to intervention success. In C. Biron, M. Karanika-Murray, & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Improving organizational interventions for stress and well-being interventions: Addressing process and context (pp. 77–101). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F., & Gordon, J. A. (2014). Evaluation of a participatory risk management work stress intervention. International Journal of Stress Management, 21(1), 27–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F., & Karasek, R. (2010). Building psychosocial safety climate: Evaluation of a socially coordinated PAR risk management stress prevention study. In J. Houdmont & S. Leka (Eds.), Contemporary occupational health psychology: Global perspectives on research and practice (pp. 208–234). Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F., & Neser, D. Y. (2013). Worker health is good for the economy: Union density and psychosocial safety climate as determinants of country differences in worker health and productivity in 31 European countries. Social Science & Medicine, 92, 114–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F., Winefield, H. R., & Winefield, A. H. (1999). Predicting “stress leave” compensation claims and return to work in welfare workers. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 4, 279–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dollard, M. F., Bailey, T., McLinton, S., Richards, P., McTernan, W., Taylor, A., & Bond, S. (2012). Australian Workplace Barometer results: Report on psychosocial safety climate and worker health in Australia. University of South Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/the-australian-workplace-barometer-report

  • Dollard, M. F., Bailey, T. S., & Webber, M. (2014). The economic burden and legal framework of work stress in Australia. In M. F. Dollard & T. S. Bailey (Eds.), The Australian Workplace Barometer: Psychosocial safety climate and working conditions in Australia. Australian Academic Press, Samford Valley, Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fifth European Working Conditions Survey. (2010). www.eurofound.europa.eu/surveys/ewcs/2010

  • Griffin, M. A., Hart, P. M., & Wilson-Evered, E. (2000). Using employee opinion surveys to improve organizational health. In L. R. Murphy & C. L. Cooper (Eds.), Health and productive work: An international perspective (pp. 15–36). London: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall-Jones, P. (2007). Unionism and economic performance. http://www.newunionism.net/library/member%20contributions/news/Unionism%20and%20Economic%20Performance.htm

  • Hyundai Research Institute. (2010). Basic Tables on the Second Korean Working Conditions Survey. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Safety and Health Agency (in Korean).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyundai Research Institute. (2011). Basic Tables on the Third Korean Working Conditions Survey. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Safety and Health Agency (in Korean).

    Google Scholar 

  • Japan Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. (2013). The National Survey of Health Status of Workers 2012. Japan Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (Japanese). http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/h24-46-50.html

  • Johnstone, R., Quinlan, M., & McNamara, M. (2011). OHS inspectors and psychosocial risk factors: Evidence from Australia. Safety Science, 49, 547–557.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawakami, N., Araki, S., Kawashima, M., Masumoto, T., & Hayashi, T. (1997). Effects of work-related stress reduction on depressive symptoms among Japanese blue-collar workers. Scandinavian Journal of Work and Environmental Health, 23, 54–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawakami, N., Kobayashi, Y., Takao, S., & Tsutsumi, A. (2005). Effects of web-based supervisor training on supervisor support and psychological distress among workers: A randomized controlled trial. Preventive Medicine, 41, 471–478.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kawakami, N., Takao, S., Kobayashi, Y., & Tsutsumi, A. (2006). Effects of web-based supervisor training on job stressors and psychological distress among workers: A workplace-based randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Health, 48(1), 28–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, Y. S., Rhee, K. Y., Oh, M. J., & Park, J. (2013). The validity and reliability of the second Korean working conditions survey. Safety and Health at Work, 4, 111–116.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, Y., Kaneyoshi, A., Yokota, A., & Kawakami, N. (2008). Effects of a worker participatory program for improving work environments on job stressors and mental health among workers: A controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Health, 50, 455–470.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, J., Lan, Y., & Wang, Z. (2001). The test of occupational stress revised edition. Chinese Journal of Occupational Health and Disease, 19, 190–193 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • McTernan, W. P., Dollard, M. F., & LaMontagne, A. D. (2013). Depression in the workplace: An economic cost analysis of depression-related productivity loss attributable to job strain and bullying. Work & Stress, 27(4), 321–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McTernan, W. P., Dollard, M. F., & LaMontagne, A. D. (2014). Estimating lost productivity costs of ALL-CAUSE poor psychological health in the workplace. In M. F. Dollard & T. S. Bailey (Eds.), The Australian Workplace Barometer: Psychosocial safety climate and working conditions in Australia. Samford Valley: Australian Academic Press (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakao, M., Nishikitani, M., Shima, S., & Yano, E. (2007). A 2-year cohort study on the impact of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) on depression and suicidal thoughts in male Japanese workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 81, 151–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2011). Stat Extracts: Average annual hours actually worked per worker. Retrieved November 10, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. (2007). The Report on the First Korean Working Conditions Survey. Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Safety and Health Agency (in Korean).

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., & Lee, N. (2009). First Korean Working Conditions Survey: A Comparison between South Korea and EU countries. Industrial Health, 47, 50–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J., Cho, Y. S., Yi, K. H., Rhee, K. Y., Kim, Y., & Moon, Y. H. (1999). Unexpected natural death among Korean workers. Journal of Occupational Health, 41, 238–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pignata, S., & Winefield, A. H. (2013). Stress-reduction Interventions in an Australian University: A case study. Stress and Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pocock, B. (2003). The work/life collision: What work is doing to Australians and what to do about it. Sydney: Federation Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, P. A. M., & Dollard, M. F. (2014). Work-family conflict in the Australian working population. In M. F. Dollard & T. S. Bailey (Eds.), The Australian Workplace Barometer: Psychosocial safety climate and working conditions in Australia. Australian Academic Press, Samford Valley, Queensland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richard, G., Lenthall, S., Dollard, M. F., Opie, T., Knight, S., Dunn, S., Wakerman, J., MacLeod, M., Seller, J., Brewster-Webb, D. (2012). Organisational intervention to reduce occupational stress and turnover in hospital nurses in the Northern Territory, Collegian, pp. 211–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Safe Work Australia. (2011a). Model Work Health and Safety Bill: Revised draft 23/6/11. Canberra: Safe Work Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/model-work-health-safety-act-23-june-2011 (downloaded 12th May 2014)

  • Safe Work Australia. (2011b). Worker representation and participation guide 10/01/2012. Canberra: Safe Work Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/worker-representation-guide (downloaded 12th May 2014)

  • Safe Work Australia. (2011c). How to manage work health and safety risks code of practice. Canberra: Safe Work Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/manage-whs-risks-cop (downloaded 12th May 2014)

  • Safe Work Australia. (2013). Compendium of workers’ compensation statistics Australia 2010–11. Retrieved from http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/compendium-2010-11. May 2013.

  • Shima, S., & Kyrabayashi, L. (2005). A survey of employees on sick leave due to mental disorders. In S Shima (Ed.), Research on returning to work and facilitating adjustment at work of workers with mental disorders mainly focusing on depression. A report of the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare funded research 2002–2004 (in Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimazu, A., Kawakami, N., Irimajiri, H., Sakamoto, M., & Amano, S. (2005). Effects of web-based psychoeducation on self-efficacy, problem solving behavior, stress responses and job satisfaction among workers: A controlled clinical trial. Journal of Occupational Health, 47, 405–413.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shimazu, A., Umanodan, R., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2006). Effects of a brief worksite stress management program on coping skills, psychological distress and physical complaints: A controlled trial. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 80, 60–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer, R. L., Kroenke, K., & Williams, J. B. (1999). Patient Health Questionnaire primary care study group validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: The PHQ primary care study. Journal of the American Medical Association, 282, 1737–1744. doi:10.1001/jama.282.18.1737.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takao, S., Tsutsumi, A., Nishiuchi, K., Mineyama, S., & Kawakami, N. (2006). Effects of the job stress education for supervisors on psychological distress and job performance among their immediate subordinates: A supervisor-based randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational Health, 48, 494–503.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsutsumi, A., Takao, S., Mineyama, S., Nishiuchi, K., Komatsu, H., & Kawakami, N. (2005). Effects of a supervisory education for positive mental health in the workplace: A quasi-experimental study. Journal of Occupational Health, 47, 226–235.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsutsumi, A., Nagami, M., Yoshikawa, T., Kogi, K., & Kawakami, N. (2009). Participatory intervention for workplace improvements on mental health and job performance among blue-collar workers: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 51(5), 554–563.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao Shuiyuan, Wang Xiangpu, Yangdesen. (1989). Worthy of attention issue – Occupational Stress. Chinese Journal of Occupational Health and Disease 7(3), 171–173 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa, T., Kawakami, N., Kogi, K., Tsutsumi, A., Shimazu, M., Nagami, M., & Shimazu, A. (2007). Development of a mental health action checklist for improving workplace environment as means of job stress prevention. Sangyō Eiseigaku Zasshi, 49, 127–142 (in Japanese).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura, K., Kawakami, N., Tsusumi, A., Inoue, A., Kobayashi, Y., Takeuchi, A., & Fukuda, T. (2013). Cost-benefit analysis of primary prevention programs for mental health at the workplace in Japan. Sangyō Eiseigaku Zasshi, 55(1), 11–24 (in Japanese).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Norito Kawakami .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kawakami, N., Park, J., Dollard, M.F., Dai, J. (2014). National Status of Psychosocial Factors at Work in Japan, Korea, Australia, and China. In: Dollard, M., Shimazu, A., Bin Nordin, R., Brough, P., Tuckey, M. (eds) Psychosocial Factors at Work in the Asia Pacific. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8975-2_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics