title: Work and Mental Complaints: Are Response Outcome Expectancies More Important Than Work Conditions and Number of Subjective Health Complaints?
abstract: Purpose Investigate the relative effect of response outcome expectancies, work conditions, and number of subjective health complaints (SHC) on anxiety and depression in Norwegian employees. Learned response outcome expectancies are important contributors to health. Individual differences in the expectancy to cope with workplace and general life demands may be important for how work conditions influence health. Method A survey was conducted among 1746 municipal employees (mean age 44.1, SD = 11.5, 81.5 % female), as part of a randomized controlled trial. This cross-sectional study used baseline data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. Outcome variables were anxiety and depression; response outcome expectancies, work conditions, and number of SHC were independent variables. Results A high number of SHC was a significant factor in explaining anxiety (OR 1.26), depression (OR 1.22) and comorbid anxiety and depression (OR 1.31). A high degree of no and/or negative response outcome expectancies was a significant factor in explaining depression (OR 1.19) and comorbid anxiety and depression (OR 1.28). The variance accounted for in the full models was 14 % for anxiety, 23 % for depression, and 41 % for comorbid anxiety and depression. Conclusion A high number of SHC, and a high degree of no and/or negative response outcome expectancies were associated with anxiety and depression. The strongest association was found for number of SHC. However, previous studies indicate that it may not be possible to prevent the occurrence of SHC. We suggest that workplace interventions targeting anxiety and depression could focus on influencing and altering employees' response outcome expectancies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vestfold Hospital Trust, POB 2168, 3103, Tønsberg, Norway. tone.johnsen@siv.no.|Department of Health Promotion, University College of Southeast Norway, Horten, Norway. tone.johnsen@siv.no.
authors.forename: Tone Langjordet
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vestfold Hospital Trust, POB 2168, 3103, Tønsberg, Norway.|Department of Health Promotion and Development, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Aage
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Indahl
authors.affiliation: Uni Research Health, POB 7810, 5020, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Bergen University College, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Hege Randi
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.affiliation: Section of Public Health, ILP, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ihlebæk
authors.affiliation: Uni Research Health, POB 7810, 5020, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Health Promotion, University College of Southeast Norway, Horten, Norway.
authors.forename: Torill Helene
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tveito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Anxiety; Coping; Depression; Occupational health; Subjective health complaints