Detailled Information

Feuerstein, M

Feuerstein M & Nicholas RA (2006): Development of a short form of the Workstyle measure, Occupational Medicine, 56, 94-99.

It is the short version of the Workstyle measure (WSF) which was reduced to 32 items. The WSF demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, indicating its utility in research on work-related upper limb dysorder symptoms and disorders (WRULD)

A prospective study having the purpose  to determine whether workstyle scores measured early in the management of work-related upper limb disorders are associated with pain and work status outcomes at 6 months after consultation. It showed that the Short Form Workstyle measure was  a modest but significant predictor of work status at 6 months (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.014–1.26). 

The study investigated whether variation in work demands are related to keyboard force, postural change, cognitive reactivity, physiological arousal, and work output in asymptomatic office workers who varied in workstyle.  Results indicate that the high workstyle group (high level of workstyle measure SFW was considered >=17) demonstrated elevated keyboard force (F[1, 74] = 3.99, P < 0.05), greater awkward posture (F[1, 69] = 4.80, P < 0.05), more negative mood changes (F[1, 73] = 10.70, P < 0.01), and more negative work-related cognitions (F[1, 73] = 4.99, P < 0.05).

The Chinese WSF (C-WSF) demonstrated excellent item- and scale-level content validity index (>0.9). The factor structure of C-WSF was similar to its original English version. The internal consistency of different subscales of C-WSF ranged from 0.65 to 0.91. The ICC was between 0.79 and 0.93 indicating good test-retest reliability. C-WSF was significantly correlated with upper extremity symptoms (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). C-WSF is a reliable and valid version of the Workstyle measures for use in Chinese population

instrument to measure workstyle which is understood as behavioral, cognitive, and physiological response of individuals in instances of increased work demands

 Scoring procedures are described only for SF (Feuerstein M & Nicholas RA (2006)): 

There are 3 different scoring routines:

Summary score 1 (Workstyle characteristic responses to the workplace score/ Part 1): to score this subscale, add the scores of the Working Through Pain, Social Reactivity, Limited Workplace Support, Deadlines/Pressure and Self-imposed Workplace/Workload subscales and substract the score from the Breaks subscale

Suumary score 2 (Workstyle reactivity to high work demands score/ Part 2): this summary score is the total of the dischotomous items factors, namely Mood and Autonomic Response subscales

Summary sccore 3 (Total workstyle score): is a summation of Part 1 and Part 2