Major depressive episodes and work stress: results from a national population survey.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the proportion of workers meeting criteria for major depressive episodes in the past year and examined the association between psychosocial work-stress variables and these episodes.


METHODS
Data were derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2, a population-based survey of 24324 employed, community-dwelling individuals conducted in 2002. We assessed depressive episodes using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.


RESULTS
Of the original sample, 4.6% (weighted n=745948) met criteria for major depressive episodes. High job strain was significantly associated with depression among men (odds ratio [OR]=2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29, 4.37), and lack of social support at work was significantly associated with depression in both genders (men, OR=2.70; 95% CI=1.55, 4.71; women, OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.71, 3.29). Women with low levels of decision authority were more likely to have depression (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.06, 2.39) than were women with high levels of authority.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant proportion of the workforce experienced major depressive episodes in the year preceding our study. Gender differences appear to affect work-stress factors that increase risk for depression. Prevention strategies need to be developed with employers and employee organizations to address work organization and to increase social support.
Blackmore
Emma Robertson
ER
University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14462-8409, USA. emma_robertsonblackmore@urmc.rochester.edu
Stansfeld
Stephen A
SA
Weller
Iris
I
Munce
Sarah
S
Zagorski
Brandon M
BM
Stewart
Donna E
DE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace