title: Problematic interpersonal relationships at work and depression: a Swedish prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown that interpersonal relations at work are important for several health related outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether low social support, serious conflict, exclusion by superiors or by co-workers at work may be determinants of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a representative Swedish cohort study data were obtained in two waves three years apart. 4,040 women and men who did not change their jobs between the waves were chosen for the study. Exposure and confounders were obtained at Time 1 and outcome, depression according to Bech's MDI at Time 2. Previous depression was controlled for by adjusting for depression at Time 1. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Odds-ratios adjusted for possible confounders and depression at base-line showed significant effects for all four exposures on depression (adjusted OR, low social support 1.5 CI 95% 1.1-2.0, serious conflict 1.4 CI 95% 1.1-1.9, exclusion by superiors 1.6 CI 95% 1.2-2.1 and exclusion by co-workers 1.7 CI 95% 1.2-2.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present results support the conclusion that problematic interpersonal relationships at work can be determinants of depression. These prospective findings may be of relevance for prevention and when rehabilitating depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. ulrich.stoetzer@ki.se
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stoetzer
authors.forename: Gunnel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahlberg
authors.forename: Gun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bergman
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hallsten
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Forsell
authors.forename: Ingvar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lundberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013548:Sweden; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*