Work characteristics and social phobia in a nationally representative employed sample.
OBJECTIVE
Social phobia is associated with long-term impairment and disability. Environmental and genetic influences may be important in etiology and persistence. This is the first study to examine the association of work characteristics with social phobia in a representative nationally employed population.


METHODS
Self-reported work characteristics were linked to 12-month social phobia diagnosed by the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview in 24 324 employed individuals from the Canadian Community Health Survey.


RESULTS
High job strain (OR = 1.62, 95%CI, 1.06 to 2.49) and job insecurity (OR = 2.47, 95%CI, 1.73 to 3.51) were associated with an increased risk of 12-month social phobia, adjusting for sociodemographic variables, prevalent depression, and other work characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Work characteristics are associated with social phobia. Characteristics such as job insecurity may be a consequence of illness in employed populations, while high job strain may increase the risk of symptoms. More investigation is needed of the relation between work and social phobia to understand how to reduce occupational disability.
Stansfield
Stephen A
SA
Centre for Psychiatry, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, England. s.a.stansfeld@qmul.ac.uk
Blackmore
Emma Robertson
ER
Zagorski
Brandon M
BM
Munce
Sarah
S
Stewart
Donna E
DE
Weller
Iris
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*