Could better jobs improve mental health? A prospective study of change in work conditions and mental health in mid-age adults
dc.contributor.author | Strazdins, Lyndall | |
dc.contributor.author | D'Souza, Rennie | |
dc.contributor.author | Clements, Mark | |
dc.contributor.author | Broom, Dorothy | |
dc.contributor.author | Berry, Helen | |
dc.contributor.author | Rodgers, Bryan | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-12-10T21:53:54Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2011 | |
dc.date.updated | 2016-02-24T11:08:16Z | |
dc.description.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. | |
dc.identifier.issn | 0143-005X | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1885/38706 | |
dc.publisher | British Medical Association | |
dc.source | Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health | |
dc.subject | 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; | |
dc.title | Could better jobs improve mental health? A prospective study of change in work conditions and mental health in mid-age adults | |
dc.type | Journal article | |
local.bibliographicCitation.issue | 6 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage | 534 | |
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage | 529 | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Strazdins, Lyndall, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | D'Souza, Rennie, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Clements, Mark, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Broom, Dorothy, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Rodgers, Bryan, College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU | |
local.contributor.affiliation | Berry, Helen, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU | |
local.contributor.authoremail | u8901581@anu.edu.au | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Strazdins, Lyndall, u8901581 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | D'Souza, Rennie, u9407394 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Clements, Mark, u3144615 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Broom, Dorothy, u8000921 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Rodgers, Bryan, u9210598 | |
local.contributor.authoruid | Berry, Helen, u4001588 | |
local.description.embargo | 2037-12-31 | |
local.description.notes | Imported from ARIES | |
local.identifier.absfor | 111714 - Mental Health | |
local.identifier.ariespublication | u4468094xPUB165 | |
local.identifier.citationvolume | 65 | |
local.identifier.doi | 10.1136/jech.2009.093732 | |
local.identifier.scopusID | 2-s2.0-79956215830 | |
local.identifier.thomsonID | 000290209400011 | |
local.identifier.uidSubmittedBy | u4468094 | |
local.type.status | Published Version |