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Globalization and Health
Published in: Globalization and Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-10-2012 | Research

Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress at work among older employees in three continents

Authors: Johannes Siegrist, Thorsten Lunau, Morten Wahrendorf, Nico Dragano

Published in: Globalization and Health | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

To assess whether an association of psychosocial stress at work with depressive symptoms among older employees is evident in a set of comparable empirical studies from Europe, North America and Asia.

Methods

Cross-sectional and longitudinal multivariate regression analyses of data from 4 cohort studies with elder workers (2004 and 2006) testing associations of psychosocial stress at work (‘effort-reward imbalance’; ‘low control’) with depressive symptoms.

Results

Cross-sectional analyses from 17 countries with 14.236 participants reveal elevated odds ratios of depressive symptoms among people experiencing high work stress compared to those with low or no work stress. Adjusted odds ratios vary from 1.64 (95% CI 1.02-2.63) in Japan to 1.97 (95% CI 1.75-2.23) in Europe and 2.28 (95% CI 1.59-3.28) in the USA. Odds ratios from additional longitudinal analyses (in 13 countries) controlling for baseline depression are smaller, but remain in part significant.

Conclusion

Findings indicate that psychosocial stress at work might be a relevant risk factor for depressive symptoms among older employees across countries and continents. This observation may call for global policy efforts to improve quality of work in view of a rapidly aging workforce, in particular in times of economic globalization.
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Metadata
Title
Depressive symptoms and psychosocial stress at work among older employees in three continents
Authors
Johannes Siegrist
Thorsten Lunau
Morten Wahrendorf
Nico Dragano
Publication date
01-10-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Globalization and Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1744-8603
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-8603-8-27

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