PURPOSE: To examine whether work arrangements, physical working conditions and psychosocial working conditions are associated with subsequent mental health problems, measured by prescribed psychotropic drugs. METHODS: Data on working conditions collected among 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland (N = 6,498) were linked with the register of prescribed medication. Purchases of antidepressants (ATC class N06A), sleeping pills and sedatives (N05B and N05C), and any psychotropic drugs during a 5-year follow-up were examined. Current users and those with regular use of psychotropic drugs during the past 3 years were excluded, leaving 5,786 respondents for analysis. RESULTS: Working overtime was associated with purchases of sleeping pills among men but otherwise the associations between work arrangements and psychotropic medication were negligible. Desktop work was associated with purchases of sleeping pills among women. Among psychosocial working conditions, high self-assessed mental strenuousness and job dissatisfaction were consistently associated with purchases of antidepressants, sleeping pills and any psychotropic drugs. The strongest association was found for job dissatisfaction, which increased the risk of antidepressant purchases by 24% per one standard deviation increase in job dissatisfaction. The results for men were largely similar, with high mental strenuousness and job dissatisfaction, and poor workplace climate showing the strongest associations, particularly with antidepressant purchases. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment of work environments by reducing mental strenuousness and improving job satisfaction might help in prevention of mental health problems that account for a major part of the disease burden among employees.
PURPOSE: To examine whether work arrangements, physical working conditions and psychosocial working conditions are associated with subsequent mental health problems, measured by prescribed psychotropic drugs. METHODS: Data on working conditions collected among 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki, Finland (N = 6,498) were linked with the register of prescribed medication. Purchases of antidepressants (ATC class N06A), sleeping pills and sedatives (N05B and N05C), and any psychotropic drugs during a 5-year follow-up were examined. Current users and those with regular use of psychotropic drugs during the past 3 years were excluded, leaving 5,786 respondents for analysis. RESULTS: Working overtime was associated with purchases of sleeping pills among men but otherwise the associations between work arrangements and psychotropic medication were negligible. Desktop work was associated with purchases of sleeping pills among women. Among psychosocial working conditions, high self-assessed mental strenuousness and job dissatisfaction were consistently associated with purchases of antidepressants, sleeping pills and any psychotropic drugs. The strongest association was found for job dissatisfaction, which increased the risk of antidepressant purchases by 24% per one standard deviation increase in job dissatisfaction. The results for men were largely similar, with high mental strenuousness and job dissatisfaction, and poor workplace climate showing the strongest associations, particularly with antidepressant purchases. CONCLUSIONS: Adjustment of work environments by reducing mental strenuousness and improving job satisfaction might help in prevention of mental health problems that account for a major part of the disease burden among employees.
Authors: Arnstein Mykletun; Simon Overland; Alv A Dahl; Steinar Krokstad; Ottar Bjerkeset; Nicholas Glozier; Leif E Aarø; Martin Prince Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2006-08 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Marianna Virtanen; Mika Kivimäki; Jane E Ferrie; Marko Elovainio; Teija Honkonen; Jaana Pentti; Timo Klaukka; Jussi Vahtera Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2007-01-22 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Sami P Pirkola; Erkki Isometsä; Jaana Suvisaari; Hillevi Aro; Matti Joukamaa; Kari Poikolainen; Seppo Koskinen; Arpo Aromaa; Jouko K Lönnqvist Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2005-01 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Bo Netterstrøm; Nicole Conrad; Per Bech; Per Fink; Ole Olsen; Reiner Rugulies; Stephen Stansfeld Journal: Epidemiol Rev Date: 2008-06-27 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Sigurd Mikkelsen; David Coggon; Johan Hviid Andersen; Patricia Casey; Esben Meulengracht Flachs; Henrik Albert Kolstad; Ole Mors; Jens Peter Bonde Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2021-02-12 Impact factor: 8.082
Authors: Anne Kouvonen; Minna Mänty; Tea Lallukka; Olli Pietiläinen; Eero Lahelma; Ossi Rahkonen Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2017-07-12 Impact factor: 2.692
Authors: Karen Albertsen; Harald Hannerz; Martin L Nielsen; Anne Helene Garde Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 2022-01-10 Impact factor: 5.492
Authors: Ida E H Madsen; Linda L Magnusson Hanson; Reiner Rugulies; Töres Theorell; Hermann Burr; Finn Diderichsen; Hugo Westerlund Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2014-02-20 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Karen Albertsen; Harald Hannerz; Martin L Nielsen; Anne Helene Garde Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 2019-12-12 Impact factor: 5.024