ARE JOB CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO FIBRINOGEN LEVELS IN MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN

This study examined whether employment status or job characteristics thought to be stressful were related to fibrinogen level in a sample of 161 healthy middle-aged women. Employed women had higher fibrinogen levels than did nonemployed women. Moreover, among employed women, those who perceived high levels of job stress or low support from their bosses had elevated fibrinogen, independent of menopausal status. Perception of low support from one's boss was related to higher fibrinogen levels only among premenopausal women or postmenopausal women who were not using hormone replacement therapy. These results are consistent with the notion that stress associated with some job characteristics influences levels of fibrinogen in women.