Emotional Demands at Work and the Risk of Clinical Depression: A Longitudinal Study in the Danish Public Sector

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

OBJECTIVE: This study is a 2-year follow-up study of different dimensions of work-related emotional demands as a predictor for clinical depression.

METHODS: In a two-wave study, 3224 (72%) public employees from 474 work-units participated twice by filling in questionnaires. Sixty-two cases of clinical depression were diagnosed. Emotional demands were examined as perceived and content-related emotional demands, individually reported and work-unit based. Support, meaningful work, and enrichment were considered as potential effect modifiers.

RESULTS: Individually reported perceived emotional demands predicted depression (odds ratio: 1.40; 95% confidence intervals: 1.02 to 1.92). The work-unit based odds ratio was in the same direction, though not significant. Content-related emotional demands did not predict depression. Support, meaningful work, and enrichment did not modify the results.

CONCLUSIONS: The personal perception of emotional demands was a risk factor for clinical depression but specific emotionally demanding work tasks were not.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Vol/bind58
Udgave nummer10
Sider (fra-til)994–1001
Antal sider8
ISSN1076-2752
DOI
StatusUdgivet - okt. 2016

ID: 164585319