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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-05-2018 | Original Article

Are there gender differences in associations of effort–reward imbalance at work with self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression? Prospective evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel

Authors: Natalia Wege, Jian Li, Johannes Siegrist

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 4/2018

Abstract

Purpose

Cohort studies established elevated risks of depression among employees experiencing psychosocial stress at work, defined by ‘job strain’ or ‘effort–reward imbalance’ (ERI). Yet, conflicting evidence exists on whether the strength of these associations varies by gender. We explore this question in a nationally representative sample of working women and men where work stress (ERI) was related to reported depression over a 2-year follow-up.

Methods

Data were derived from the panel waves 2011 and 2013 of the German Socio-Economic Panel. Work stress was assessed by validated short scales of the ERI questionnaire, and doctor-diagnosed depression reported in 2013 (after excluding cases reported in 2011) was used as outcome variable. The sample with full data in 2013 consisted of 6693 participants (49.4% women).

Results

In 2011, men scored significantly higher than women on the scale ‘effort’ and on the ‘effort–reward ratio’, whereas no significant gender differences for ‘reward’ and ‘over-commitment’ were observed. Women reported a diagnosed depression almost twice as often as men (4.2 vs. 2.6%). Associations of all ERI scales with depression were statistically significant, with no noticeable differences in the strength of associations between women and men. Risk of depression was higher among men and women with effort–reward imbalance [RR (risk ratio) of 1.82; 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.36–2.44 and RR of 1.88; 95% CI 1.51–2.33, respectively].

Conclusions

Despite higher effort and slightly higher effort–reward ratio among men interaction terms between gender, work stress and depression were generally not significant. While gender inequities in the labour market are persisting stress-reducing worksite health promotion programs should apply equally for men and women.

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Title: Are there gender differences in associations of effort–reward imbalance at work with self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression? Prospective evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel
Authors: Natalia Wege
Jian Li
Johannes Siegrist
Publication date: 01-05-2018
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 4/2018
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-018-1293-8

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Are there gender differences in associations of effort–reward imbalance at work with self-reported doctor-diagnosed depression? Prospective evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

ACC 2024 Congress

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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