Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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distinctly showing that stress and anxiety are amongst the most
commonly cited reasons for the development of headache. Numerous
studies have found that stress both at work and at home can trigger
attacks of migraine (Kohler & Haimerl, 1990). For example, Hashizume et
al. (2008) conducted a study looking at stress and mood changes in
Japanese participants over the 1-3 days before a migraine headache and
included 16 participants who kept a headache diary four times a day over
two weeks. Results concluded that the beginning of Migraine was
preceded by psychosocial stress by three to four days, and so concluded
that stress played an important part in the experience of Migraine.
Similarly, research by Martin et al. (1993) and Martin, Lae & Reece (2007)
emphasise the potency of stress as a headache trigger, with stress found
to have a stronger effect on headache than any of anxiety, glare or noise.
1b.1.2) Insomnia & Fatigue
Sleep disorders and fatigue are an area of concern associated with
stress-related problems. Common anecdotes often equate workplace
stress with sleep disorders, but empirical research has also associated
sleep disorders as correlated with sleep disturbances. For example, a
study by Clint, Barry and Alexia (2008) utilised a self-report survey to look
for any correlational relationship between stress in the workplace and
work-related driver fatigue. The authors found that workplace stress
alongside other factors was a significant predictor of fatigue-related driver
near misses, and these two elements also predicted fatigue-related
behaviour.
1b.1.3) Musculoskeletal Pain & Muscle Tension
Musculoskeletal reactions and muscle tension have often been
spoken of as an outcome of chronic psychosocial workplace stress (Palliser
et al., 2005), with research indicating that the risk factors to
musculoskeletal pain are multi-faceted. For example, it is well
documented that physically monotonous and repetitive work is associated