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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology

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01-08-2013 | Original Paper

The importance of both workplace and private life factors in psychological distress: a large cross-sectional survey of French railway company employees

Authors: David Evans, Luc Mallet, Antoine Flahault, Catherine Cothereau, Sébastien Velazquez, Loïc Capron, Michel Lejoyeux

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 8/2013

Abstract

Purpose

The psychological well-being of employees is a priority in occupational health. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress among employees of a large French company, to calculate the associations between distress and stressors in the workplace and private life domains, and to explore confounding across stressor domains.

Methods

8,058 employees of the French national railways company completed a nation-wide survey in 2006 (94.3 % participation). Psychological distress was measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire and 21 potential stressors and socio-demographic factors by a self-administered questionnaire. Stressors were summarized in scores for work pressure, workplace conflict, and personal life domains. Risk ratios (RRs) between psychological distress and stressors were calculated using robust-variance Poisson regression.

Results

The prevalence of psychological distress was 32.8 % (95 % CI 31.8–33.9 %), higher among women (48.9 %, 95 % CI 46.5–51.7 %) than men (30.1 %, 95 % CI 29.0–31.2 %). Each stressor domain was associated with distress in the final model containing likely confounders and all three domains (RR highest vs. lowest level—work pressure: men 1.55, 95 % CI 1.42–1.70, women 1.42, 95 % CI 1.23–1.63; work conflict: men 2.63, 95 % CI 2.38–2.91, women 1.98, 95 % CI 1.70–2.30; life concerns: men 2.04, 95 % CI 1.86–2.23, women 1.53, 95 % CI 1.32–1.78). The mutually adjusted RRs for the stressor domains were smaller than the unadjusted RRs.

Conclusions

Almost one-third of all employees and one-half of female employees experienced psychological distress. All three stressor domains were associated with psychological distress and adjustment reduced the association size, suggesting possible over-estimation if one or more domains are omitted from the survey.

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Title: The importance of both workplace and private life factors in psychological distress: a large cross-sectional survey of French railway company employees
Authors: David Evans
Luc Mallet
Antoine Flahault
Catherine Cothereau
Sébastien Velazquez
Loïc Capron
Michel Lejoyeux
Publication date: 01-08-2013
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 8/2013
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0605-7

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The importance of both workplace and private life factors in psychological distress: a large cross-sectional survey of French railway company employees

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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