title: Subjective underchallenge at work and its impact on mental health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relation between subjective underchallenge at work and the degree of depressiveness and life satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of the German general population of N = 1,178 (52.5% men; age: M = 40.4 years, SD = 11.3) was included in this study. Measurements contain Satisfaction with Life Scalè (SWLS) and the Patient Health Questionnairè (PHQ-D). To assess subjective underchallenge at work, a ten-item scale was developed for the purpose of this study. The association between subjective underchallenge at work, life satisfaction and depressiveness was examined by means of path analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant positive association was found between subjective underchallenge at work and depressiveness, mediated by life satisfaction. This association was not moderated by income but by level of education. Participants with a medium educational level displayed a weaker association than participants with either a high or a low educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not only work overload but also feeling underchallenged at work can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being. This is not an issue for blue-collar workers only and deserves more attention in future research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology, Charité-University Medical Center Berlin, Luisenstrasse 57, Berlin, Germany. anja.lehmann@charite.de
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burkert
authors.forename: Isolde
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Daig
authors.forename: Heide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glaesmer
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001887:Boredom; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult