Could better jobs improve mental health? A prospective study of change in work conditions and mental health in mid-age adults
Date
2011
Authors
Strazdins, Lyndall
D'Souza, Rennie
Clements, Mark
Broom, Dorothy
Berry, Helen
Rodgers, Bryan
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Volume Title
Publisher
British Medical Association
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Keywords: baseline conditions; health risk; mental health; public health; sensitivity analysis; symptom; unemployment; adult; article; Australia; employment; female; human; job satisfaction; male; mental health; middle aged; personnel management; prospective study;
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Source
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Type
Journal article
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2037-12-31