The associations between psychosocial working conditions and changes in common mental disorders: a follow-up study

BMC Public Health

Eero Lahelma¹  Ossi Rahkonen¹  Jouni Lahti¹  Peppiina Saastamoinen²  Hanna Laine¹ 

[1] Hjelt Institute, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, PL 41, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a, 00250 Helsinki, Finland

关键词: Follow-up;    Psychosocial working conditions;    Changes;    GHQ-12;    Common mental disorders;   

Others  :  1129534
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-588

 received in 2013-10-22, accepted in 2014-06-02,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Common mental disorders (CMD) are prevalent in working populations and have adverse consequences for employee well-being and work ability, even leading to early retirement. Several studies report associations between psychosocial working conditions and CMD. However, there is a lack of longitudinal research within a broad framework of psychosocial working conditions and improvement in CMD. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between several psychosocial working conditions and deteriorating and improving CMD among ageing employees over a five-to-six-year follow-up period.

Methods

The study is based on the Helsinki Health Study baseline survey in 2001–2002 and a follow-up in 2007 (N = 4340, response rate 83%) conducted among 40-60-year-old female and male employees. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure common mental disorders. Psychosocial working conditions were measured in terms of job strain, organisational justice, work-family interface, social support and workplace bullying. The covariates included sociodemographic and health factors.

Results

Following adjustment for all the covariates, family-to-work (OR 1.41, 95% Cl 1.04-1.91) and work-to-family conflicts (OR 1.99, 95% Cl 1.42-2.78) and workplace bullying (OR 1.40, 95% Cl 1.09-1.79) were associated with deterioration, and family-to-work conflicts (OR 1.65, 95% Cl 1.66-2.34) and social support (OR 1.47, 95% Cl 1.07-2.00) with improvement in CMD.

Conclusions

Adverse psychosocial working conditions contribute to poor mental health among employees. Preventing workplace bullying, promoting social support and achieving a better balance between work and family may help employees to maintain their mental health.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Laine et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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