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

Marianne Agergaard Vammen, Sigurd Mikkelsen, Åse Marie Hansen, Jens Peter Bonde, Matias B. Grynderup, Henrik Kolstad, Linda Kærlev, Ole Mors, Reiner Ernst Rugulies, Jane Frølund Thomsen

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume58
Issue number10
Pages (from-to)994–1001
Number of pages8
ISSN1076-2752
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2016

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Emotional Demands at Work and the Risk of Clinical Depression: A Longitudinal Study in the Danish Public Sector'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this