The effect of organisational system on self-rated depression in a panel of male municipal firefighters.
OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluated the effects of job stress, including organisational system to self-rated depression through a panel study of male municipal firefighters in the Republic of Korea.


METHODS
A panel of 186 municipal firefighters reported self-rated depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The effects of job stress were evaluated using the Korea Occupational Stress Scale, taken one year earlier and classified by the median value. Panel members were classified into Depression or Control groups according to BDI scores, with a cut-off level of 'over mild depression' in a follow-up survey.


RESULTS
The Depression group included 17 (9.1%) workers. Firefighters who scored high on occupational system had an 8.3 times greater risk of being assigned to the Depression group than those who had not (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 8.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.73-37.22]). In contrast, job stress from a 'difficult physical environment' revealed negative risks related to being classified in the Depression group (AOR = 0.20, 95% CI = [0.04-0.92]).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the healthy worker effect may be involved, job stress based on perceptions of organisational system was a strong risk factor for depression. A comprehensive approach should be considered that encompasses social issues when assessing or mental health in high-risk groups, as well as the practical issue of physiochemical hazards.
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Se-Jin
SJ
An
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Yun Kyung
YK
Chung
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Bong Hyun
BH
Kim
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Kyeong Min
KM
Kwak
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Changwon Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan College of Medicine, Changwon City, Republic of Korea.
Jun-Seok
JS
Son
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Seoul St. Mary hospital, Catholic university of Medicine, Seoul City, Republic of Korea.
Jung-Wan
JW
Koo
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Young-Su
YS
Ju
Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea.
Young-Jun
YJ
Kwon
Depression; Firefighter; Municipality; Occupational stress; Organisational system