Psychosocial work factors and social inequalities in psychological distress: a population-based study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Clermont E. Dionne¹  Manon Levesque²  Ruth Ndjaboué²  Caroline S. Duchaine²  Xavier Trudel²  Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet²  Chantal Brisson²  Neil Pearce³  Michel Vézina⁴  Benoît Mâsse⁵ 

[1] CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, G1S 4L8, Quebec city, QC, Canada;Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la médecine, G1V 0A6, Quebec city, QC, Canada;CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, 1050 chemin Sainte-Foy, G1S 4L8, Quebec city, QC, Canada;Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, G1V 0A6, Quebec city, QC, Canada;Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, WC1E 7HT, London, UK;Social and preventive medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, 1050 avenue de la Médecine, G1V 0A6, Quebec city, QC, Canada;Social and preventive medicine department, Public Health School, Montreal University, 7101 avenue du Parc, H3N 1X9, Montreal, QC, Canada;Research Center CHU-Ste-Justine, 3175 Côte Ste-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montréal, Québec, Canada;

关键词: Social inequalities;    Mental health problems;    Job strain;    Effort-reward imbalance;    Psychological distress;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-017-4014-4

 received in 2016-06-24, accepted in 2017-01-04,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMental health problems (MHP) are the leading cause of disability worldwide. The inverse association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and MHP has been well documented. There is prospective evidence that factors from the work environment, including adverse psychosocial work factors, could contribute to the development of MHP including psychological distress. However, the contribution of psychosocial work factors to social inequalities in MHP remains unclear. This study evaluates the contribution of psychosocial work factors from two highly supported models, the Demand-Control-Support (DCS) and the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) models to SEP inequalities of psychological distress in men and women from a population-based sample of Quebec workers.MethodsData were collected during a survey on working conditions, health and safety at work. SEP was evaluated using education, occupation and household income. Psychosocial work factors and psychological distress were assessed using validated instruments. Mean differences (MD) in the score of psychological distress were estimated separately for men and women.ResultsLow education level and low household income were associated with psychological distress among men (MD, 0.56 (95% CI 0.06; 1.05) and 1.26 (95% CI 0.79; 1.73) respectively). In men, the contribution of psychosocial work factors from the DCS and the ERI models to the association between household income and psychological distress ranged from 9% to 24%. No clear inequalities were observed among women.ConclusionsThese results suggest that psychosocial work factors from the DCS and the ERI models contribute to explain a part of social inequalities in psychological distress among men. Psychosocial factors at work are frequent and modifiable. The present study supports the relevance of targeting these factors for the primary prevention of MHP and for health policies aiming to reduce social inequalities in mental health.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017