Depressive Symptoms Odds Ratio Research Articles

Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress at work among older employees in three continents

BackgroundTo assess whether an association of psychosocial stress at work with depressive symptoms among older employees is evident in a set of comparable empirical studies from Europe, North America and Asia.MethodsCross-sectional and longitudinal multivariate regression analyses of data from 4 cohort studies with elder workers (2004 and 2006) testing associations of psychosocial stress at work (‘effort-reward imbalance’; ‘low control’) with depressive symptoms.ResultsCross-sectional analyses from 17 countries with 14.236 participants reveal elevated odds ratios of depressive symptoms among people experiencing high work stress compared to those with low or no work stress. Adjusted odds ratios vary from 1.64 (95% CI 1.02-2.63) in Japan to 1.97 (95% CI 1.75-2.23) in Europe and 2.28 (95% CI 1.59-3.28) in the USA. Odds ratios from additional longitudinal analyses (in 13 countries) controlling for baseline depression are smaller, but remain in part significant.ConclusionFindings indicate that psychosocial stress at work might be a relevant risk factor for depressive symptoms among older employees across countries and continents. This observation may call for global policy efforts to improve quality of work in view of a rapidly aging workforce, in particular in times of economic globalization.

Dietary patterns and depressive symptoms among Japanese men and women

Although several studies have reported associations of depressive state with specific nutrients and foods, few studies examined the association with dietary patterns in adults. We investigated the association between major dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in Japanese. Subjects were 521 municipal employees (309 men and 212 women), aged 21-67 years, who participated in a health survey at the time of periodic checkup. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Dietary patterns were derived by using principal component analysis of the consumption of 52 food and beverage items, which was assessed by a validated brief diet history questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios of depressive symptoms (CES-D >or=16) with adjustment for potential confounding variables. We identified three dietary patterns. A healthy Japanese dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of vegetables, fruit, mushrooms and soy products was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of having depressive symptoms for the lowest through highest tertiles of the healthy Japanese dietary pattern score were 1.00 (reference), 0.99 (0.62-1.59) and 0.44 (0.25-0.78), respectively (P for trend=0.006). Other dietary patterns were not appreciably associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that a healthy Japanese dietary pattern may be related to decreased prevalence of depressive status.

Obesity, Physical Activity, and Depressive Symptoms in a Cohort of Adults Aged 51 to 61

To determine associations between changes in obesity and vigorous physical activity (PA) status and depressive symptoms in a cohort aged 51 to 61 years at baseline. Two waves (1992, 1998) of Health and Retirement Study data were used to divide participants into four obesity and four vigorous PA status categories based on change in or maintenance of their 1992 status in 1998. Depressive symptoms were defined as the upper quintile score (women >/= 4, men >/= 3) on the eight-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. Logistic regression determined adjusted odds ratios for depressive symptoms associated with obesity and vigorous PA status. Among men, no significant associations were found. Among women, decreasing from high vigorous PA status and maintenance of obese status were independently associated with increased odds for depressive symptoms in 1998. The findings illustrate the importance of examining gender differences in studies of risk factors for depression.

Serum folate and homocysteine and depressive symptoms among Japanese men and women

Folate and homocysteine have been implicated to have a role in depression. However, results of epidemiologic studies on this issue have been inconsistent. The objective of this study was to clarify the association between serum folate and homocysteine concentrations and depressive symptoms in Japanese adults. We analyzed cross-sectional data for 530 municipal employees (313 men and 217 women), aged 21-67 years, who participated in a health survey at the time of periodic checkup. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios of depressive symptoms (CES-D scale scores of >or=16) with adjustment for potential confounding variables. In total, 113 men (36.1%) and 79 women (36.4%) had depressive symptoms. A higher serum folate was associated with a decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms in men. The multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of depressive symptoms for the lowest to highest quartiles of serum folate were 1.00 (reference), 0.53 (0.27-1.03), 0.33 (0.16-0.68) and 0.51 (0.25-1.03), respectively (trend P=0.03). Furthermore, the data suggested a positive association between serum homocysteine and depressive symptoms in men (trend P=0.06). In women, neither folate nor homocysteine was associated with depressive symptoms. Low serum folate may be related to an increased prevalence of depressive symptoms in Japanese men.

Hearing Handicap Predicts the Development of Depressive Symptoms After 3 Years in Older Community‐Dwelling Japanese

To examine the association between hearing handicap and depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling Japanese. Community-based cohort study. Kurabuchi Town, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Five hundred eighty residents (261 men, 319 women) aged 65 and older without depressive symptoms. In a baseline examination performed in 2005/06, participants answered the 10-item screening version of the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly (HHIE-S). They were divided into two groups according to their scores: a group with no hearing handicap (HHIE-S scores of < or =8) and a hearing handicap group (HHIE-S scores of > or =10). The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to identify depressive symptoms in face-to-face home visit interviews conducted in 2008, and the association between hearing handicap and depressive symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. The incidence of depressive symptoms was 19.6% in the group with a hearing handicap and 8.0% in the group without a hearing handicap. When compared with the subjects without hearing handicap, subjects with a hearing handicap had a multiadjusted odds ratio of depressive symptoms of 2.45 (95% confidence interval=1.26-4.77). The association remained significant even when hearing impairment measured with pure-tone audiometry was added to the multiadjusted model. A hearing handicap can predict future depressive symptoms in older community-dwelling people.

Depressive symptomatology in tertiary-care glaucoma patients

Objective: To investigate depressive symptomatology among patients with glaucoma and to relate the findings to disease stability. Design: Cross-sectional postal survey. Participants: The study sample consisted of 258 patients out of a pool of 884 respondents to a survey on health and sleep sent to 1809 glaucoma patients registered in a major tertiary glaucoma centre at the Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ont. Methods: The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale questionnaire was mailed along with questions related to demographic information, general health, and sleep quality. Respondents were included if ( i) their diagnosis was either primary open-angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma, or primary angle-closure glaucoma; ( ii) the disease duration was 3 years or more; ( iii) clinical examinations were obtained annually; and ( iv) perimetric results were reliable. Each patient's condition was classified as stable or progressive on the basis of pointwise decline in visual fields (VFs). Results: The unadjusted odds ratio for depressive symptoms was found to be 0.4 times less (95% CI 0.19-0.88) in patients with progressive VFs ( n = 79) than in patients with stable VFs ( n = 179). Adjusting for demographic characteristics, general health, psychiatric comorbidity, and ocular factors did not weaken this association. However, it was reduced by the increased severity of VF defects (moderate and severe). Conclusions: In this sample of tertiary-care patients, depressive symptoms were found to be less common in patients with progressive than with stable VFs when defects were classified as early, but not when they were classified as moderate or severe.

Pain responses in repeated end-range spinal movements and psychological factors in sick-listed patients with low back pain: Is there an association?

Repeated end-range spinal movements producing specific pain responses (i.e. centralization or non-centralization) may be used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. However, possible associations between psychological factors and pain responses have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between pain responses in repeated end-range spinal movement tests and psychological factors. Cross-sectional clinical study. Data from 331 patients sick-listed for 4-12 weeks due to low back pain with or without sciatica. Initially the patients completed a questionnaire including questions about psychological factors. Then they underwent a standardized physical test procedure and were classified according to centralized or non-centralized pain response. Statistically significant associations were found between non-centralization and mental distress (p < 0.009) as well as depressive symptoms (p < 0.049). These associations remained present after adjustment for potential confounders by logistic regression: mental distress odds ratio (OR) 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.30) (p = 0.013), depressive symptoms OR 1.23 (95% CI 1.01-1.51) (p = 0.044). The pain responses in repeated end-range spinal movements were not independent of psychological factors. Mental distress and depressive symptoms occurred more often among non-centralizers than among centralizers. It is recommended that the possible influence of psychological factors on the result of mechanical testing be accounted for in future studies.

Violence and Women's Psychological Distress After Birth: An Exploratory Study in Italy

Our aim in conducting this study was to analyze the relationships between violence and maternal psychological distress 8 months after a birth, taking into account other important psychosocial factors, known to be associated both with violence and with new mothers’ mental health. A total of 352 women responded to a questionnaire after the birth at a maternity hospital in northern Italy, and 292 also participated in a telephone interview 8 months later. We evaluated psychological distress with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and partner and family violence with a 28-item scale. Eight months postpartum, 5% of women showed high psychological distress; 10% were currently experiencing violence from the partner or another family member. After adjustment for covariates, the odds ratio for depressive symptoms was 13.74 for women experiencing violence. We believe that these results provide support for the important role of violence in postpartum maternal psychological distress.

Twenty‐four‐hour shift work, depressive symptoms, and job dissatisfaction among Japanese firefighters

The influence of a 24-hr shift-work burden on firefighters' mental health has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study is to clarify the relationships between specific workload items among firefighters engaged in 24-hr shift work and job stress as estimated by the generic job-stress questionnaire on depressive symptoms and job dissatisfaction from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The subjects were 1,301 firefighters. The questionnaire covered age, gender, job type, job class, marital status, smoking and drinking habits, number of attendances, turnout time, extra work hours, average nap-time, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and questions from the NIOSH generic job-stress questionnaire, including those on job satisfaction. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, a model that included all variables except the measures from the NIOSH generic job-stress questionnaire showed that shorter nap-time had significant higher odds ratios (ORs) for depressive symptoms and job dissatisfaction, but the significances disappeared in a fully adjusted model. In fully adjusted logistic regression analyses, low quantitative workload, low variance in workload, high intra- and intergroup conflict, low social support from a supervisor, high role conflict and ambiguity, and low self-esteem had significant higher ORs for depressive symptoms and/or job dissatisfaction. Amount of workload, variance in workload, intra- and intergroup conflict, social support from a supervisor, role conflict and ambiguity, and self-esteem were significantly related to depressive symptoms and/or job dissatisfaction among Japanese firefighters. Moreover, inadequate nap-time may affect their mental health.

Job strain, burnout, and depressive symptoms: A prospective study among dentists

Background Burnout has been presented as an antecedent of depression, but longitudinal data are lacking. We investigated whether burnout mediates the association between job strain and depressive symptoms. Methods Two surveys were conducted. In 2003, 71% of Finnish dentists were reached, and the response rate of the 3-year follow-up was 84% ( n = 2555). Burnout was measured with the Maslach Burnout Inventory and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depression Inventory. The sequences ‘job strain–burnout–depressive symptoms’ and ‘job strain–depressive symptoms–burnout’ were investigated with logistic regression analyses. Results Of the burnout sufferers without depressive symptoms at baseline, 23% reported depressive symptoms at follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio of burnout for depressive symptoms was 2.6 (95% CI 2.0–3.5). The effect of job strain on depressive symptoms had an OR of 3.4 (95% CI 2.0–5.7), but it disappeared when adjusted for burnout. Of those who had depressive symptoms without burnout at baseline, 63% had burnout at follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio of depressive symptoms for burnout was 2.2 (95% CI 1.4–3.4). The effect of job strain on burnout had an OR of 27.9 (95% CI 6.5–120.2) for the men and 4.9 (95% CI 2.5–9.6) for the women. These effects remained significant after adjustment for depressive symptoms. Limitations The study was conducted among one occupational group. Conclusions There is a reciprocal relationship between burnout and depressive symptoms. Job strain predisposes to depression through burnout. In comparison, job strain predisposes to burnout directly and via depression.

Self-perceptions of fulfilling the foster caregiver role: A preliminary analysis

This study identified items measuring foster caregivers' perceptions of fulfilling their foster caregiver role and the factors associated with those perceptions. Data were analyzed from the Illinois Foster Caregivers Study, which interviewed a sample of 204 foster caregivers who currently had children in their care. A principal component analysis determined that responses to four questions related to the foster caregiver experience measured one construct (alpha = 72). The bivariate analysis indicated that foster caregivers' age, helpfulness of the foster child information provided at the time of placement, and adult support increased the odds of foster caregivers' perceptions of fulfilling their caregiver role. Attaining at least a high school education, higher family income, depressive symptoms, and three types of childhood maltreatment decreased the odds of their positive perceptions. In the multivariate analysis, only the odds ratios for depressive symptoms, an index of childhood maltreatment, and adult support were significant predictors of the foster caregivers' perceptions. Child welfare agency and practice implications are drawn from the analysis.

Evaluation of smoking on the physical activity and depressive symptoms relationship.

Physical activity is inversely associated with depressive symptoms, and cigarette smoking is positively associated with depressive symptoms. Data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) and the NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up study were analyzed to determine whether the relationship between physical activity and self-reported distress (depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale) was different for cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (adjusted for age, race, sex, education, alcohol use, and perceived health status) for depressive symptoms (> or = 16) associated with physical activity and smoking status among 2,054 respondents. At baseline, the odds ratio for depressive symptoms was about 2 times higher for moderately active smokers and nonsmokers, and 3 times higher for low active smokers and nonsmokers, compared with highly active nonsmokers. For 1,132 persons with a low number of depressive symptoms (< 16) at baseline, the incidence of depressive symptoms after 7-9 yr of follow-up was about 2 times higher for low/moderately active smokers and nonsmokers than for highly active nonsmokers. The association between physical activity and the prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms is not significantly modified by smoking status.