Table 5 Cross-sectional associations between work characteristics and depressive episode and generalised anxiety disorder at age 45: demand, latitude, support, job insecurity and job strain
nJob demandsDecision latitudeSocial supportJob insecurityHigh job strain
High demandMid demandLow latitudeMid latitudeLow supportMid support
RR (95% CI)RR (95% CI)RR (95% CI)RR (95% CI)RR (95% CI)RR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)OR (95% CI)
Depressive disorder
    No81391.001.001.001.001.001.001.001.00
    Yes1044.50*** (2.27 to 8.97)3.43*** (1.62 to 7.25)1.28 (0.76 to 2.17)1.69 (0.96 to 2.96)1.44 (0.84 to 2.47)1.13 (0.63 to 2.03)1.83* (1.11 to 3.02)1.89** (1.20 to 2.99)
Anxiety disorder†
    No80381.001.001.001.001.001.001.001.00
    Yes205M: 5.89*** (2.43 to 14.26)M: 2.21 (0.81 to 6.03)1.41* (1.03 to 1.96)0.91 (0.57 to 1.46)1.76** (1.23 to 2.53)1.03 (0.69 to 1.56)2.06*** (1.45 to 2.94)1.65** (1.19 to 2.31)
F: 1.29 (0.81 to 2.05)F: 0.88 (0.46 to 1.57)
Any diagnosis†
    No78571.001.001.001.001.001.001.001.00
    Yes386M: 4.99*** (2.46 to 10.10)M: 2.14 (0.99 to 4.63)1.46** (1.12 to 1.91)1.18 (0.86 to 1.62)1.97*** (1.50 to 2.60)1.20 (0.87 to 1.65)1.86*** (1.44 to 2.40)1.88*** (1.48 to 2.39)
F: 1.75** (1.22 to 2.54)F: 1.37 (0.92 to 2.03)
  • Reference groups: low demand, high latitude, high support, high job security, low job strain. Each model is adjusted for sex, marital status, housing tenure, long-standing illness at 45, and qualifications at age 33. OR, odds ratio; RR, relative risks.

  • *p = 0.05, **p = 0.01, ***p<0.001.

  • †Interaction demands×anxiety disorder p = 0.003; demands×any diagnosis p = 0.013.