Adaptation of office workers to a new building – Impaired well-being as part of the sick-building-syndrome

AimThe focus of our study was the assessment of the effects of spatial relocation on office staff. Our aim was to investigate whether psychosocial or personal factors are better predictors of the occurrence of impaired well-being.MethodsBefore relocation the administration of the university hospital of Ulm (Germany) was located in ten different buildings. Chemical and physical parameters of the indoor air were measured. The employees were surveyed with a questionnaire for their health status and psychosocial determinants. After moving to a new wide-spaced building, the same procedure was reapplied shortly afterwards and half a year later. Only respondents who had taken part in all three surveys are taken into account (n=84). The definition of impaired well-being as defined by the ProKlimA-study group was used as the criterion variable.ResultsThe overall prevalence of impaired well-being rose from 24% to 36% after relocation. Contrarily, persons who were formerly accommodated in a wide spaced-building showed a reduced risk (ORpost1=0.3). Affected persons had at all times a more negative response pattern. Chemical and physical parameters did not have any influence in this context.ConclusionsThe adaptation to a new environment is influenced by the old “socialization” of the former buildings. Impaired well-being is not limited to bodily complaints, it rather has a systemic character in the form of a distinctive overall response pattern. For an adequate analysis of impaired well-being – and the sick-building-syndrome in consequence – the elucidation of individual and other potentially intervening factors is essential. Taking this into consideration, the search for norm values or a framework seems to be of limited value.