Rachel Avery Horton1, Hester J Lipscomb. 1. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. ravery@email.unc.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Work in poultry-processing plants is physically demanding, and a number of studies have documented the effects of such work on the physical health of workers. Few studies, however, have examined the potential effects on mental health. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected on 223 women who worked in two poultry-processing plants in northeastern North Carolina. Effects on depressive symptoms of demographic variables, work tenure at baseline, musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial job characteristics, coping style, and health-related quality of life were examined using mixed models. RESULTS: Psychosocial job characteristics were not associated with depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) in this cohort of workers. CES-D scores decreased with increasing work tenure at the plant, which suggests a healthy worker survivor effect (HWSE). CONCLUSIONS: These exploratory analyses draw attention to the need to more carefully explore the possibility that the HWSE may extend to mental health outcomes as well as physical ones.
BACKGROUND: Work in poultry-processing plants is physically demanding, and a number of studies have documented the effects of such work on the physical health of workers. Few studies, however, have examined the potential effects on mental health. METHODS: Longitudinal data were collected on 223 women who worked in two poultry-processing plants in northeastern North Carolina. Effects on depressive symptoms of demographic variables, work tenure at baseline, musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial job characteristics, coping style, and health-related quality of life were examined using mixed models. RESULTS:Psychosocial job characteristics were not associated with depressive symptoms as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D) in this cohort of workers. CES-D scores decreased with increasing work tenure at the plant, which suggests a healthy worker survivor effect (HWSE). CONCLUSIONS: These exploratory analyses draw attention to the need to more carefully explore the possibility that the HWSE may extend to mental health outcomes as well as physical ones.
Authors: Berry J van Holland; Remko Soer; Michiel R de Boer; Michiel F Reneman; Sandra Brouwer Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2014-08-07 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Thomas A Arcury; Haiying Chen; Dana C Mora; Francis O Walker; Michael S Cartwright; Sara A Quandt Journal: Arch Environ Occup Health Date: 2014-08-26 Impact factor: 1.765