Social support modifies an association between work stress and semen quality: Results from 384 Chinese male workers

Peng Zou; Lei Sun; Qing Chen; Guowei Zhang; Wang Yang; Yingfei Zeng; Niya Zhou; Ying Li; Jinyi Liu; Lin Ao; Jia Cao; Huan Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.013

Social support modifies an association between work stress and semen quality: Results from 384 Chinese male workers

J Psychosom Res. 2019 Feb:117:65-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.013. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Authors

Peng Zou¹, Lei Sun¹, Qing Chen¹, Guowei Zhang², Wang Yang¹, Yingfei Zeng¹, Niya Zhou¹, Ying Li³, Jinyi Liu¹, Lin Ao¹, Jia Cao⁴, Huan Yang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
² Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China; Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
³ Department of Social Medicine and Health Service Management, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
⁴ Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: caojia1962@126.com.
⁵ Key Lab of Medical Protection for Electromagnetic Radiation, Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: ouchyoung@msn.com.

PMID: 30391000
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.013

Abstract

Objective: Psychosocial factors have been associated with a decline of the quality of semen. The study was aimed at (i) estimating the association between work stress and semen quality and (ii) exploring the moderating effect of social support in semen parameters among Chinese male workers.

Methods: Data were obtained from 384 adult male workers recruited from April 2014 to December 2015 in Chongqing, China. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and life-style factors. Work stress and social support was measured by the Chinese version of a 22-item Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). They underwent a physical examination and provided a semen sample.

Results: Subjects with high work stress were associated with a higher risk of being classified below WHO's thresholds for "normal," defined by sperm concentration (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.24-3.68, p = .006) or total sperm count (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.13-3.36, p = .02) criteria than subjects with low work stress were. However, these adverse associations were not observed among subjects with high social support (p = .80 for sperm concentration, and p = .39 for total sperm count). Interaction effects between social support and work stress on sperm concentration (p = .002) and total sperm count (p = .02) were detected.

Conclusion: Work stress is associated with lower levels of semen quality. Social support attenuates the negative association between work stress and semen quality, which may have implications for reproductive health.

Keywords: Interaction effect; Job Content Questionnaire; Semen quality; Social support; Work stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
China
Humans
Infertility / etiology*
Male
Occupational Stress / complications*
Semen Analysis / methods*
Social Support*
Sperm Count / methods*
Young Adult