Appreciation and job control predict depressive symptoms: results from the Study on Mental Health at Work

Anne Pohrt,Daniel Fodor,Hermann Burr,Friederike Kendel

doi:10.1007/s00420-021-01735-6

Abstract

ObjectiveDepressive symptoms are a leading cause of disability retirement and sick leave. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of depressive symptoms in German employees and its associations with factors from both the occupational and the non-occupational domain and gender.MethodsIn the second wave of the German Study of Mental Health at Work (SMGA), a representative sample of 2640 German employees (52% women) was studied. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the PHQ-9 questionnaire. Psychosocial occupational and non-occupational conditions were assessed with quantitative interviews. In this cross-sectional sample, the association of these factors with depressive symptoms was examined using logistic regression models.ResultsFactors from both the occupational and the non-occupational domain were associated with risk of depressive symptoms. Low appreciation from superior (ORmen 2.1 (95% CI 1.2–3.7); ORwomen 3.2 (95% CI 2.1–4.8)), low job control (ORmen 2.9 (95% CI 1.6–5.4); ORwomen 1.6 (95% CI 1.0–2.5)), and critical life events (ORmen 3.0 (95% CI 1.6–5.4); ORwomen 2.3 (95% CI 1.5–3.7)) had the strongest association with risk of depressive symptoms. The association with quantitative demands was stronger in caregivers than in non-caregivers. The results indicated possible differences in the associations of working conditions between men and women, and between family caregivers and non-caregivers.ConclusionFactors from both work and private life are associated with depressive symptoms, especially appreciation, job control, and critical life events. Gender differences, with respect to appreciation and influence at work, suggest a more gender sensitive approach to psychosocial occupational health research and interventions.

Highlights

This study examined the association of factors from both the occupational and non-occupational domain with depressive symptoms and gender
Many studies have focused on the effect of adverse working conditions on mental health (Stansfeld and Candy 2006; Kleppa et al 2008; Theorell et al 2015; Madsen et al 2017), finding evidence that psychosocial working conditions affect the risk of developing depressive symptoms
Appreciation by superior and job control, together with critical life events, were the most important factors related to depressive symptoms

Summary

Introduction

This study examined the association of factors from both the occupational and non-occupational domain with depressive symptoms and gender. Two models are often employed to explain the effect of working conditions on mental health: the JDC model (Job Demand Control model) which describes the effects of high demands and low control, and less often the ERI model (Effort-RewardImbalance model) (Siegrist 2016), which focuses on an imbalance of effort and reward. Other work factors such as appreciation by superior are considered less often (Theorell et al 2015; Burr and d’Errico 2018). There is evidence of the impact of non-occupational stressors such as family care obligations and critical life events (CLE) (Kessler 1997; Pinquart and Sörensen 2003; Dickau 2015), which provide evidence that family caregivers have higher risk of depression and stress and that CLE are a strong predictor of depression. (Siegrist 2016)

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Conclusion