the Role of Leadership in Prevention Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death worldwide, are now recognized as being strongly influenced by living and working conditions. Chronic stress, work overload, pressure from superiors, and a lack of support: the work environment can either protect or undermine workers' health. In this context, leadership by supervisors emerges as a strategic lever for prevention that is often overlooked. This book, based on rigorous research conducted in Brazzaville with 156 participants (public school teachers and private-sector employees), demonstrates that leadership styles are not neutral when it comes to cardiovascular health. Through a systematic comparative analysis of nine public schools and the private company Archer Capital, the author highlights two opposing dynamics: a virtuous cycle in the private sector, where participatory management and proactive prevention reinforce one another; a vicious cycle in the public sector, where absent leadership and a lack of health policies cause lasting damage to employees' well-being.