Association of work environment with stress and depression among Japanese workers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Shiga, Kiko^{a; j} | Izumi, Keisuke^{b; c; d} | Minato, Kazumichi^a | Yoshimura, Michitaka^e | Kitazawa, Momoko^a | Hanashiro, Sayaka^a | Cortright, Kelley^a | Kurokawa, Shunya^a | Momota, Yuki^a | Sado, Mitsuhiro^{a; f} | Maeno, Takashi^g | Takebayashi, Toru^h | Mimura, Masaru^a | Kishimoto, Taishiro^{a; i; k; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan | [b] Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan | [c] National Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan | [d] Medical AI Center, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan | [e] Faculty of Human Health, Aichi Toho University, Nagoya, Japan | [f] Center for Stress Research, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan | [g] Human System Design Laboratory, Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University, Kanagawa, Japan | [h] Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan | [i] Psychiatry Department, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA | [j] Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Human Relations, Shigakukan University, Kagoshima, Japan | [k] Hills Joint Research Laboratory for Future Preventive Medicine and Wellness, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Taishiro Kishimoto, MD, PhD, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medi-cine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan. E-mail: taishiro-k@mti.biglobe.ne.jp.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:There is a lack of studies that investigated the effect of a wide range of work environmental factors on stress and depression in Japan. OBJECTIVES:To examine the association of work environment factors with stress and depression among workers in Japan. METHODS:We conducted questionnaire surveys of workers that mainly engage in desk work in Japan. Stress was assessed through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), depression through the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and work environment through physical and psychological workplace environment questionnaires. Workers were divided into low and high stress groups based on PSS score (median split), and divided into non-depressed and depressed groups based on their PHQ-9 score (< 5, and ≥5); these groups were then compared with their working environment. In addition, a multiple regression analysis was performed. RESULTS:Responses were obtained from 210 subjects. Multiple regression analysis showed that “Ability to work at one’s own pace” and “Ability to apply personal viewpoint to work,” etc., had effect on stress, while “Workplace harassment” and “Support from colleagues,” etc., had effect on depression. CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest that stress and depression in Japanese workers are related to factors such as job demands, control of work, workplace harassment, and psychological safety.

Keywords: Psychological stress, depression, work environment, occupational mental health

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-210356

Journal: Work, vol. 72, no. 4, pp. 1321-1335, 2022