Is depression a risk factor for meatpacking injuries?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Lander, Lina^{a; *} | Sorock, Gary S.^b | Smith, Lynette M.^c | Stentz, Terry L.^{d; e} | Kim, Seung-Sup^f | Mittleman, Murray A.^g | Perry, Melissa J.^f

Affiliations: [a] Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA | [b] Springfield Hospital Center, Sykesville, MD, USA | [c] Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA | [d] College of Engineering, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA | [e] Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center-Omaha, NE, USA | [f] Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA | [g] Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Lina Lander, Sc.D. Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center 984395, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4395, USA. Tel.: +1 402 559 9402; E-mail: llander@unmc.edu.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:While meatpacking is a physically demanding industry, the effect of depression on risks for injury has not been studied. OBJECTIVE:To assess depressive disorders (major depression and dysthymia) using a validated screening tool administered to injured and uninjured meatpacking workers in two Midwestern plants. METHODS:Matched case-control analyses were conducted among 134 workers to evaluate the association between depressive disorder and the occurrence of laceration injury. RESULTS:Of the 268 workers, 13.8% screened positive for depressive disorder, whereas the general population prevalence estimate for depressive disorder using the same tool was 3.4% . Depressive disorder was not associated with an increased risk for injury; 17% of cases who experienced a laceration injury and 15% of uninjured controls reported depressive disorder (OR 0.81, 95% CI: 0.39–1.69). CONCLUSIONS:Evaluation of depression causes among meatpacking workers is needed to elucidate prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords: Depressive disorder, meatpacking, occupational, laceration

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-152147

Journal: Work, vol. 53, no. 2, pp. 307-311, 2016