Contribution of burnout to the association between job strain and depression: the health 2000 study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of burnout to the association between job strain and depression. METHODS: A representative sample of 3270 Finnish employees aged 30 to 64 years responded to the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey and the Beck Depression Inventory and participated in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: High strain compared with low strain was associated with 7.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.6-9.7) times higher odds of burnout, 3.8 (95% CI = 2.8-5.1) times higher odds of depressive symptoms, and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.1-2.6) times higher odds of depressive disorders. The risk for depressive symptoms and for depressive disorders of high strain was reduced by 69% or more after adjusting for burnout. CONCLUSION: Burnout is strongly related to job strain and may in part mediate the association between job strain and depression.

Author information

Author/s: Ahola, Kirsi (K); Honkonen, Teija (T); Kivimäki, Mika (M); Virtanen, Marianna (M); Isometsä, Erkki (E); Aromaa, Arpo (A); Lönnqvist, Jouko (J);

Affiliation: Centre of Expertise for Work Organizations, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. kirsi.ahola(-atsign-)ttl.fi

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (J Occup Environ Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Oct; vol 48 (issue 10) : pp 1023-30

Dates: Created 2006/10/11; Completed 2007/01/04;

PMID: 17033502, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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