title: Work-related Stress, Caregiver Role, and Depressive Symptoms among Japanese Workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Japan, more than 60% of employees are reported to suffer from anxiety and stress. Consequently, Japanese society has begun to address such important issues as psychogenic disability and job-related suicide. Furthermore, given the aging of society and the surge in the number of elderly people requiring care, it is necessary to adequately and proactively support employees who care for their elderly relatives. The purpose of the present study was to investigate caregiver burden in caring for elderly relatives and work-related stress factors associated with mental health among employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 722 men and women aged 18-83 years in a cross-sectional study. The K10 questionnaire was used to examine mental health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of participants with a high K10 score was 15% (n = 106). Having little conversation with their supervisor and/or coworkers significantly increased the risk of depression [odds ratio (OR) 1.8], as did high job overload (OR 2.7) and job dissatisfaction (OR 3.8), compared with employees who frequently conversed with their supervisor and/or coworkers. Caring for elderly relatives as a prominent characteristic of an employee was a significant risk factor for depression (OR 2.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrated that employees who were caring for elderly relatives were significantly associated with an increased risk of depression. To prevent depressive disorders, it may be important to focus on reducing the work-caregiving role conflict, as well as enhancing employees' job control and better rewarding their efforts in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Ayumi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Date
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumihisa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honda
keywords: caregiving; depression; work-related stress