title: Professional autonomy and work setting as contributing factors to depression and absenteeism in Canadian nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of major depression in Canadian nurses is double the national average for working women. The present study sought to delineate the role of professional autonomy, health care setting, and work environment characteristics as risk factors for depression and absenteeism in female nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, secondary analysis was conducted on a large representative sample of female nurses working in hospitals and other settings across Canada (N = 17,437). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to test the hypothesis that work environment factors are significant determinants of major depression and absenteeism in female nurses after accounting for other risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experiencing a major depressive episode in the past 12 months was significantly associated with lower autonomy (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93), higher job strain (OR = 2.2), being a licensed practical nurse (OR = 0.82), and working in a nonhospital setting (OR = 1.5). Higher absenteeism was associated with the same variables as well as having less control over one's work schedule.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to increase autonomy of nurses and reduce job strain may help to address the high prevalence of major depression in this professional group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Enns
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: scurrie@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: JianLi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016526:Workload; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Autonomy; Canadian nurses; Depression; Work absences; Work environment