title: The Contribution of Individual, Social and Work Characteristics to Employee Mental Health in a Coal Mining Industry Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence regarding the extent of mental health problems and the associated characteristics within an employee population is necessary to inform appropriate and tailored workplace mental health programs. Mental health within male dominated industries (such as mining) has received recent public attention, chiefly through observations regarding suicide in such populations in Australia and internationally. Currently there is limited empirical evidence regarding the mental health needs in the mining industry as an exemplar of a male dominated workforce, and the relative contribution to such problems of individual, socio-economic and workplace factors. This study aimed to investigate the mental health and associated characteristics among employees in the Australian coal mining industry with a specific focus on identifying modifiable work characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among employees (n = 1457) across eight coal mines stratified by key mine characteristics (state, mine type and employee commute arrangements). Participants completed measures of psychological distress (K10+) and key variables across four categories (socio-demographic characteristics, health history, current health behaviours, work attitudes and characteristics).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychological distress levels within this sample were significantly higher in comparison with a community sample of employed Australians. The following factors contributed significantly to levels of psychological distress using hierarchical linear regression analysis: lower social networks; a past history of depression, anxiety or drug/alcohol problems; high recent alcohol use; work role (managers) and a set of work characteristics (level of satisfaction with work, financial factors and job insecurity; perception of lower workplace support for people with mental health problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to examine the characteristics associated with mental health problems in the Australian coal mining industry. The findings indicate the salience of mental health needs in this population, and the associated interplay of personal, social and work characteristics. The work characteristics associated with psychological distress are modifiable and can guide an industry response, as well as help inform the understanding of the role of workplace factors in mental health problems in a male dominated workforce more generally.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1757-5148
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Considine
authors.affiliation: Hunter Institute of Mental Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.|NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Resources Health and Safety, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tynan
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Resources Health and Safety, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.|Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiggers
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Tonelle
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Handley
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Resources Health and Safety, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.|Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003032:Coal Mining; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult