Keser, Suzi
Description
This thesis sought to develop the idea that the psychosocial
occupational environment contributes to depression risk. The
topic of occupational stress and depression was introduced by
considering its impact on individual, workplace, economic and
societal functioning (Chapter 1). The classic theoretical
frameworks utilised to study this relationship were briefly
described in Chapter 2 and the demand control/support model (DC/S
model; Karasek & Theorell, 1990)...[Show more] was selected to guide the
initial analysis. The evidence on the DC/S model and depression
risk was subsequently reviewed with a focus on more recent
research (Chapter 3). It was deemed that the risk of depression
was inconclusive. The review also highlighted a paucity of data
from within the Australian workforce. The subsequent three
empirical surveys were considered an important contribution to
knowledge about occupational stress and depression in the
Australian context.
The first empirical study evaluated the DC/S model in a sample of
Australian public service employees (Chapter 4). The main effects
of control and social support were supported, which prompted
interest in advancing knowledge about these specific
associations. The social identity approach to stress and
wellbeing in the workplace (van Dick & Haslam, 2012) was
considered to offer unique insights into these relationships. The
perspective was introduced together with an evaluation of the
evidence linking social identification to workplace support and
mental ill-health (Chapter 5). The chapter provided a solid basis
from which to extend expectations for workplace control (Chapter
6). The critical analysis of evidence in these two chapters also
raised conceptual and methodological issues within the social
identity approach that were addressed in the subsequent studies.
To advance the testing of causal associations Study 2 (Chapter 7)
examined predictions with a one-year longitudinal design. Ratings
of high demands prospectively predicted depression ratings. The
predictions for the main and mediating role of social
identification were largely supported with cross-sectional data
while longitudinal associations were not significant. Chapter 8
subsequently considered alternate explanations for the
contemporaneous associations between social identification,
decision latitude and social support, and depression. A final
longitudinal study assessed the likelihood that reciprocal
associations would best characterise the association between the
assessed occupational stressor and depression ratings (Study 3,
Chapter 9). The reverse model was found to be the less false
account of the data where baseline depression predicted six-month
supervisor support and decision authority ratings. The normal
causation model was best fitting for the association between
social identification and occupational stressors, where social
identification at baseline predicted six-month decision
authority, co-worker and supervisor support ratings. Only the
latter relationships remained significant in the final model. The
thesis closed by highlighting the contributions made to evidence,
knowledge about occupational stress and depression in Australia,
theory, practice and philosophy, with suggestions for future
research considered throughout (Chapter 10).
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