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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology

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Open Access 01-12-2020 | Mood Disorders | Research

Are social conflicts at work associated with depressive symptomatology? Results from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study

Authors: Andrea E. Zuelke, Susanne Roehr, Matthias L. Schroeter, A. Veronica Witte, Andreas Hinz, Christoph Engel, Cornelia Enzenbach, Joachim Thiery, Markus Loeffler, Arno Villringer, Steffi G. Riedel-Heller

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Psychosocial stressors in the workplace can be detrimental to mental health. Conflicts at work, e.g. aggression, hostility or threats from coworkers, supervisors or customers, can be considered a psychosocial stressor, possibly increasing risk for depressive symptoms. Existing studies, however, differ in the assessment of social conflicts, i.e. as individual- or job-level characteristics. Here, we investigated the association between conflicts at work assessed as objective job characteristics, and depressive symptomatology, using data from a large population-based sample. Additionally, we investigated gender differences and the impact of personality traits and social resources.

Methods

We used data from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study from Leipzig, Germany. Information on conflicts at work, assessed as job characteristics, were drawn from the Occupational Information Network, depressive symptoms were assessed via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multilevel linear regression models with individuals and occupations as levels of analysis were applied to investigate the association between conflicts at work and depressive symptoms.

Results

Our sample included 2164 employed adults (age: 18–65 years, mean: 49.3, SD: 7.9) in 65 occupations. No association between conflicts s at work and depressive symptomatology was found (men: b = − 0.14; p = 0.74, women: b = 0.17, p = 0.72). Risk for depression was mostly explained by individual-level factors like e.g. neuroticism or level of social resources. The model showed slightly higher explanatory power in the female subsample.

Conclusion

Conflicts at work, assessed as objective job characteristics, were not associated with depressive symptoms. Possible links between interpersonal conflict and impaired mental health might rather be explained by subjective perceptions of social stressors and individual coping styles.

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Title: Are social conflicts at work associated with depressive symptomatology? Results from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study
Authors: Andrea E. Zuelke
Susanne Roehr
Matthias L. Schroeter
A. Veronica Witte
Andreas Hinz
Christoph Engel
Cornelia Enzenbach
Joachim Thiery
Markus Loeffler
Arno Villringer
Steffi G. Riedel-Heller
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Mood Disorders
Affective Disorder
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-020-0253-x

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Are social conflicts at work associated with depressive symptomatology? Results from the population-based LIFE-Adult-Study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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