Could better jobs improve mental health? A prospective study of change in work conditions and mental health in mid-aged adults.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the extent improvement or deterioration in employee job security, control or workload is associated with a change in mental health.


METHODS
Self-report panel data (2000, 2004) on mental health (symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety) and job demands, control and insecurity. Changes in exposures and outcomes were calculated by subtracting wave 1 from wave 2 scores. Changes in mental health were regressed onto changes in work conditions, adjusting for confounders. Sensitivity analyses assessed reverse causation, floor and ceiling effects.


METHODS
Two adjoining cities in south-east Australia.


METHODS
1975 employees aged 40-48 years, 50% (n=995) male.


RESULTS
Improvements and deterioration in each work condition were associated with corresponding improvements or deterioration in mental health. The association between changes in job insecurity and symptoms of depression was B=0.386 (95% CI 0.245 to 0.527) and with anxiety symptoms was B=0.434 (95% CI 0.267 to 0.601). Similarly, changes in job control were associated with changes in depressive (B=-0.548; 95% CI -0.791 to -0.304) and anxiety symptoms (B=-0.608; 95% CI -0.896 to -0.319) as were changes in job demands (B depression=0.386; 95% CI 0.245 to 0.527; B anxiety=0.434; 95% CI 0.267 to 0.601). Excluding people with severe symptoms at baseline did not alter the findings; however, path analyses indicated that depression may precede a worsening of work conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Among mid-aged employees, deteriorating work conditions may amplify population health burdens, especially anxiety. Furthermore, better quality jobs, combining an array of positive conditions, could alleviate major population health burdens.
Strazdins
Lyndall
L
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. lyndall.strazdins@anu.edu.au
D'Souza
Rennie M
RM
Clements
Mark
M
Broom
Dorothy H
DH
Rodgers
Bryan
B
Berry
Helen L
HL
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016526:Workload