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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Published in:

01-07-2012 | Original Article

Depressive symptoms in junior doctors: a follow-up study on work-related determinants

Authors: Matthias Weigl, Severin Hornung, Raluca Petru, Jürgen Glaser, Peter Angerer

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 5/2012

Abstract

Purpose

The study investigates the long-term effects of accumulated working conditions on depressive symptoms in junior doctors. Drawing on the Job Demand-Control-Support model, this study aims to identify personal and job-related determinants for self-reported depression in junior doctors—a professional group that is vulnerable to depression.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study with measures of work characteristics and depressive symptoms over three time-points among hospital doctors during postgraduate specialty training in Germany. Participants were 415 junior doctors with full-time contract (47.5% women; mean age, 30.5 years). The outcome was depressive symptoms assessed with the Spielberger State-Depression Scale. Odds ratios (OR) were computed to analyse the cumulative effect of initial depressive symptoms scores, demographic variables, and working characteristics across T1 and T2 on subsequent depressive symptoms at T3.

Results

The percentage of junior doctors reporting depressive symptoms scores above a critical value varied between 12.0% at T1, 10.4% at T2, and 13.3% at T3; N = 34 doctors (8.19%) were classified as incident cases during the observation period. Elevated depressive symptoms at T3 were positively predicted by depressive symptoms scores across T1 and T2 (OR: 1.37; 95% confidence interval: 1.25–1.50) and negatively by professional tenure (0.54; 0.31–0.96), free weekends (0.52; 0.28–0.97), and job autonomy (0.35; 0.18–0.65).

Conclusions

After controlling for demographic and working time influences, findings suggest that junior doctors’ perceived job autonomy is negatively associated with future depressive symptoms. Enhancing job control emerges as a promising strategy to lower the risk of depression during first years of professional practice.

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Title: Depressive symptoms in junior doctors: a follow-up study on work-related determinants
Authors: Matthias Weigl
Severin Hornung
Raluca Petru
Jürgen Glaser
Peter Angerer
Publication date: 01-07-2012
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0706-8

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Depressive symptoms in junior doctors: a follow-up study on work-related determinants

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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