title: Job strain, depressive symptoms, and drinking behavior among older adults: results from the health and retirement study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between job strain and two indicators of mental health, depression and alcohol misuse, among currently employed older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data come from the 2004 and 2006 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,902). Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to determine the association between job strain, indicated by the imbalance of job stress and job satisfaction, with depression and alcohol misuse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High job strain (indicated by high job stress combined with low job satisfaction) was associated with elevated depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 2.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.99-4.45) relative to low job strain after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, labor force status, and occupation. High job stress combined with high job satisfaction (OR = 1.93) and low job stress combined with low job satisfaction (OR = 1.94) were also associated with depressive symptoms to a lesser degree. Job strain was unrelated to either moderate or heavy drinking. These associations did not vary by gender or age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Job strain is associated with elevated depressive symptoms among older workers. In contrast to results from investigations of younger workers, job strain was unrelated to alcohol misuse. These findings can inform the development and implementation of workplace health promotion programs that reflect the mental health needs of the aging workforce.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Heath, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. bmezuk@vcu.edu
authors.forename: Briana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mezuk
authors.forename: Amy S B
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Bohnert
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratliff
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zivin
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012179:Retirement; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States