Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

  • Volume 35
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  • Pages.33.1-33.9
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  • 2023
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  • 1225-3618(pISSN)
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  • 2052-4374(eISSN)
The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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Occupational stress changes and new-onset depression among male Korean manufacturing workers

  • Jiho Kim (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Hwan-Cheol Kim (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Minsun Kim (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Seong-Cheol Yang (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Shin-Goo Park (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Jong-Han Leem (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital) ;
  • Dong-Wook Lee (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital)
  • Received : 2023.04.04
  • Accepted : 2023.07.10
  • Published : 2023.12.31
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Abstract

Background: Studies on the association between occupational stress and depression have been frequently reported. However, the cross-sectional designs of studies limited insight into causal associations. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal association between occupational stress and new-onset depression among employees in a single manufacturing plant. Methods: The annual health checkup data of employees at a manufacturing plant in Korea were collected. A total of 1,837 male employees without depression who completed a health checkup during two consecutive years were included. Occupational stress was measured using a short form of the Korea Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS-SF), and depression was assessed using a Patient Health Questionnaire-2. The association between occupational stress change over the two years and newly developed depression was investigated using two logistic regression models. Results: Across all sub-factors of KOSS-SF, employees who reported increased occupational stress had a higher risk of new-onset depression. Newly developed depression was significantly associated with job demand (odds ratio [OR]: 4.34; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.37-7.96), job insecurity (OR: 3.21; 95% CI: 1.89-5.48), occupational climate (OR: 3.18; 95% CI: 1.91-5.31), lack of reward (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.26-4.12), interpersonal conflict (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.18-3.86), insufficient job control (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.05-3.56), and the organizational system (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.01-3.36). Conclusions: For every sub-factor of the KOSS-SF, occupational stress increase and persistent high stress were associated with the risk of developing new-onset depression. Among the seven sub-factors, job demand had the most significant effect. Our results show that occupational stress should be managed to promote employee mental healthcare.

Keywords

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