Relationship between CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and job stress in workers of a jetty in the south of Iran

Job stress can be defined as a psychological state which results from an imbalance between job demands and human capabilities as well as the inability of a person to overcome the job demands. Genetics and environment are two factors affecting the level of job stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and job stress in workers of a jetty in the south of Iran.
In this cross-sectional study enrolled all 170 employees of Bandar Abbas Shahid Bahonar jetty. The US Institute of Mental Health job stress questionnaire was used to determine the job stress level. The questionnaire contained 58 questions including 3 dimensions as interpersonal (26 items), physical conditions (22 items) and job interest (10 questions). Each question is scored from 1 to 5. Based on this questionnaire the stress levels categorized as lower stress, normal stress and high stress. Another questionnaire was used to measure the job satisfaction. Job satisfaction questionnaire contained 36 questions and the options of the questionnaire were scored from 1 to 6. The questionnaire examined the various dimensions of job satisfaction including salary, promotion, supervision, benefits, rewards, working conditions, colleagues, nature of work and communication. To determine genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1, DRD4 and 5-HTT blood samples were taken from each of the subjects. Then, genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and genetic polymorphisms were determined by PCR technique.
The distribution of employees on different levels of job stress showed that in all dimensions, most of workers had high level of job stress. In addition, in total, 76.8 percent of the all studied workers had high level of job stress. Since using the available methods and instruments in this study the polymorphism of 5_HTT and DRD4 genes were not determined, the polymorphism of CYP1A1 gene and its relationship with job stress was considered. According to the results no significant difference between the mean stress scores of two different morphs of CYP1A1 gene was observed.
The results of this study did not show a relationship between genetic factors and the level of job stress. On the contrary, this study showed that environmental factors such as working conditions and communication are factors that can be considered as predictors of job stress level. Accordingly, it is recommended to consider non-genetic factors such as communication and salary to reduce the job stress level.