Low workplace social capital as a predictor of depression: the Finnish Public Sector Study.
In a prospective cohort study of Finnish public sector employees, the authors examined the association between workplace social capital and depression. Data were obtained from 33,577 employees, who had no recent history of antidepressant treatment and who reported no history of physician-diagnosed depression at baseline in 2000-2002. Their risk of depression was measured with two indicators: recorded purchases of antidepressants until December 31, 2005, and self-reports of new-onset depression diagnosed by a physician in the follow-up survey in 2004-2005. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to explore whether self-reported and aggregate-level workplace social capital predicted indicators of depression at follow-up. The odds for antidepressant treatment and physician-diagnosed depression were 20-50% higher for employees with low self-reported social capital than for those reporting high social capital. These associations were not accounted for by sex, age, marital status, socioeconomic position, place of work, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, and body mass index. The association between social capital and self-reported depression attenuated but remained significant after further adjustment for baseline psychological distress (a proxy for undiagnosed mental health problems). Aggregate-level social capital was not associated with subsequent depression.
Kouvonen
Anne
A
Institute of Work, Health, and Organisations, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom. anne.kouvonen@nottingham.ac.uk
Oksanen
Tuula
T
Vahtera
Jussi
J
Stafford
Mai
M
Wilkinson
Richard
R
Schneider
Justine
J
Väänänen
Ari
A
Virtanen
Marianna
M
Cox
Sara J
SJ
Pentti
Jaana
J
Elovainio
Marko
M
Kivimäki
Mika
M
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents