RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Could better jobs improve mental health? A prospective study of change in work conditions and mental health in mid-aged adults
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 529
OP 534
DO 10.1136/jech.2009.093732
VO 65
IS 6
A1 Strazdins, Lyndall
A1 D'Souza, Rennie M
A1 Clements, Mark
A1 Broom, Dorothy H
A1 Rodgers, Bryan
A1 Berry, Helen L
YR 2011
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/65/6/529.abstract
AB Objectives To investigate the extent improvement or deterioration in employee job security, control or workload is associated with a change in mental health.Design Self-report panel data (2000, 2004) on mental health (symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety) and job demands, control and insecurity. Changes in exposures and outcomes were calculated by subtracting wave 1 from wave 2 scores. Changes in mental health were regressed onto changes in work conditions, adjusting for confounders. Sensitivity analyses assessed reverse causation, floor and ceiling effects.Setting Two adjoining cities in south-east Australia.Participants 1975 employees aged 40–48 years, 50% (n=995) male.Results Improvements and deterioration in each work condition were associated with corresponding improvements or deterioration in mental health. The association between changes in job insecurity and symptoms of depression was B=0.386 (95% CI 0.245 to 0.527) and with anxiety symptoms was B=0.434 (95% CI 0.267 to 0.601). Similarly, changes in job control were associated with changes in depressive (B=−0.548; 95% CI −0.791 to −0.304) and anxiety symptoms (B=−0.608; 95% CI −0.896 to −0.319) as were changes in job demands (B depression=0.386; 95% CI 0.245 to 0.527; B anxiety=0.434; 95% CI 0.267 to 0.601). Excluding people with severe symptoms at baseline did not alter the findings; however, path analyses indicated that depression may precede a worsening of work conditions.Conclusion Among mid-aged employees, deteriorating work conditions may amplify population health burdens, especially anxiety. Furthermore, better quality jobs, combining an array of positive conditions, could alleviate major population health burdens.