Psychosocial work exposures among European employees: explanations for occupational inequalities in mental health.
BACKGROUND
Social inequalities in mental health have been demonstrated but understanding the mechanisms remains unclear. This study aims at exploring the role of psychosocial work factors in explaining occupational inequalities in mental health among European employees.


METHODS
The study sample covered 33,443 employees coming from the European Working Conditions Survey 2010. Mental health was measured by the WHO-5 well-being index and socioeconomic position by occupation. Twenty-five psychosocial work factors were constructed including job demands, job influence and development, role stressors, social support, quality of leadership, discrimination, violence at work, working hours, job promotion, job insecurity and work-life imbalance. Multilevel linear regressions and bootstrap analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Occupational differences were observed for poor mental health and almost all psychosocial work factors. Factors related to job demands, influence and development at work, social relationships and leadership, working hours and other factors contributed to explain the occupational inequalities in mental health. In particular, factors related to influence and development contributed substantially. Among men, workplace violences were found to contribute little whereas among women these factors did not play a role.


CONCLUSIONS
Future prevention interventions should have a broad and comprehensive focus in order to reduce social inequalities in mental health.
INSERM, U1018, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health Team, Villejuif, France Univ Paris-Sud, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France Université de Versailles St-Quentin, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France.
Stefanie
S
Schütte
INSERM, U1018, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health Team, Villejuif, France Univ Paris-Sud, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France Université de Versailles St-Quentin, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France.
Jean-François
JF
Chastang
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland.
Agnès
A
Parent-Thirion
European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland.
Greet
G
Vermeylen
INSERM, U1018, CESP Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, Epidemiology of Occupational and Social Determinants of Health Team, Villejuif, France Univ Paris-Sud, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France Université de Versailles St-Quentin, UMRS 1018, Villejuif, France European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Dublin, Ireland.
Isabelle
I
Niedhammer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011584:Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
occupational inequalities in mental health; psychosocial work factors; working conditions survey