Mental health effects of changes in psychosocial work characteristics: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a possible causal relationship between psychosocial work characteristics and mental health.


METHODS
Using longitudinal data from the Maastricht Cohort Study on "Fatigue at Work" (n = 2332), the effects of changes in job demands and decision latitude on subsequent changes in need for recovery and prolonged fatigue were studied.


RESULTS
Increasing job demands are a significant predictor of a subsequent increase in need for recovery (beta = 0.063) and prolonged fatigue (beta = 0.057). An increase in decision latitude predicted a subsequent decrease in need for recovery (beta = -0.078) and prolonged fatigue (beta = -0.063). After adjusting for changes in other work characteristics, the effects on changes in prolonged fatigue were no longer significant.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support a possible causal relationship between work characteristics and mental health and can be used for designing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
De Raeve
Lore
L
Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. lore.deraeve@epid.unimaas.nl
Vasse
Rineke M
RM
Jansen
Nicole W H
NW
van den Brandt
Piet A
PA
Kant
Ijmert
I
D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011584:Psychology; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*