Determinants of Subjective Occupational Stress: An Estimate Using the Generalized Estimating Equations Method

We study the explanatory factors for self-reported stress levels of employees in a large French firm, using the ten-item “subjective stress scale.” Applying the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method, we obtain two results. First, there are many gender-related differences in subjective stress. Second, the use of a stress score - constructed as a linear combination of scores obtained for each item - proves debatable. Despite the information obtained in the analysis, the fact remains that many exogenous factors can influence the subjective stress level. Sometimes, these factors are hard to measure. Examples include physiological predispositions and the influence of social and work partners.