Objective Knowledge on the cumulative effects of psychosocial work factors on mental health is sparse, and other occupational exposures such as those from the physical work environment remain understudied in this topic. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the associations between various types of occupational factors, including a large variety of psychosocial work factors (PWFs), and major depressive episode (MDE) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in the French working population.

Methods The study was based on data from the 2016 national survey on working conditions conducted on a representative sample of workers, including 20430 employees aged 15–65 years (8579 men, 11851 women). The MINI standardized diagnostic interview was used to assess MDE and GAD. The following occupational exposures were studied: 21 PWFs grouped in five dimensions (work demands, work organization and job content, interpersonal relations and leadership, work-individual interface, workplace violence), four working time/hours factors and four physico-chemical exposures. The associations between occupational exposures and MDE/GAD were assessed in each gender separately using weighted logistic regression models.

Results We found a higher prevalence of MDE and GAD among women than among men (8.6% and 8.7% respectively versus 4.3% and 4.6%). There were significant associations between most psychosocial work factors, andMDE and/or GAD. The odds of MDE/GAD increased with the number of exposures for all psychosocial dimensions, except workplace violence. The odds of MDE also increased with multiple physico-chemical exposures. No association was found between working time/hours factors and MDE/GAD, except between unsocial work days, shift work and MDE in women.

Conclusion Our results highlighted the negative impact of being exposed to multiple PWFs for depression and anxiety, and showed a cumulative association of the four studied physico-chemical exposures with depression. More research is needed on the effect of the accumulation of occupational exposures on these outcomes in working populations.