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Three job-related stress models and depression: a population-based study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To estimate the current prevalence of major depression in a sample of working population, and to examine the associations between job strain, effort–reward imbalance and family–work conflicts and major depression.

Methods

A sample of employees who were between the ages of 25 and 65 years and who were working in Alberta at the time of survey was recruited using the method of random digit dialing (n = 4,302). Data about job stress, effort–reward imbalance and work–family conflicts and depression were collected via telephone. Depression was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression.

Results

The 2-week prevalence of major depression based on the DSM algorithm was 3.2%. The prevalence of severe depression was 0.8%. Job strain, effort–reward imbalance and work–family conflicts were strongly associated with continuous depression score. Effort–reward imbalance was significantly associated with depression scores in women, but not in men. Effort–reward imbalance was significantly associated with depression scores in participants with job strain ratio >1, but not in those with a lower job strain ratio. The association between work to family conflict and depression score was stronger in participants with a job strain ratio greater than one than in those whose job strain ratio was one or less.

Conclusions

The three job-related stress models are widely used in occupational health research. They are equally important in predicting depression and interact with each other. Improving work environment based on these models holds potentials to reduce the synergetic effects, therefore, improving employees’ mental health.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported a Grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Jian Li Wang held a New Investigator Award from the CIHR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Room 4D69, TRW Building, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada

    JianLi Wang & Scott Patten

  2. Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    JianLi Wang, Gordon Fick & Scott Patten

  3. Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Elizabeth Smailes

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada

    Jitender Sareen

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada

    Norbert Schmitz

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  1. JianLi Wang
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  2. Elizabeth Smailes
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  3. Jitender Sareen
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  4. Norbert Schmitz
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  5. Gordon Fick
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  6. Scott Patten
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Correspondence to JianLi Wang.

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Wang, J., Smailes, E., Sareen, J. et al. Three job-related stress models and depression: a population-based study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 47, 185–193 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0340-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-011-0340-5

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