Work Conditions are Associated with Alcohol Use after Taking into Account Life Conditions Outside of Work: Findings from a French Occupational Health Service.

Background

Our aim was to examine whether work conditions could be associated with alcohol use even after taking into account life conditions outside of work.

Methods

In 2019, 591 consecutive French workers were screened for alcohol use with the Fast Alcohol Consumption Evaluation (FACE). Ten different work conditions and four life conditions outside of work were assessed with 5-item Likert scales. Sociodemographic factors, smoking status and the Copenhaguen Burn-out Inventory were also collected. The associations between each work condition and FACE total score were examined with generalized linear models.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the following work conditions were associated with a decreased FACE total score: "positive and/or grateful feedback on your work" (B = -0.22 (95%CI: -0.37; -0.07), p = 0.004), "time to do your job well" (B = -0.19 (95%CI: -0.35; -0.03), p = 0.019) and "freedom to organize your work" (B = -0.25(95%CI: -0.43; -0.08), p = 0.004). After further adjusting for life conditions outside of work, "positive and/or grateful feedback on your work" (B = -0.18 (95%CI: -0.33; -0.03), p = 0.021) and "freedom to organize your work" (B = -0.20(95%CI: -0.38; -0.02), p = 0.027) remained significantly associated with FACE total score. Additional adjustments for smoking status and burnout did not alter these results.

Conclusions

Life conditions outside of work should not interfere with how improvements work conditions can help reduce alcohol use.