Prevalence of depression and its relationship with work characteristics in a sample of public workers

Figures & data

Table 1 General characteristics of the study sample

Whole sample (n)	1,013
Age, years (mean ± SD)	40.8±8.8
Sex
Male (n, %)	706 (70)
Female (n, %)	307 (30)
Type of occupation
Health workers (n, %)	531 (52)
Transport operators (n, %)	445 (43)
University employees (n, %)	37 (3)
Age group
24–35 years (n, %)	313 (31)
36–50 years (n, %)	547 (54)
51–64 years (n, %)	153 (15)

Abbreviation: SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Marital status and depression

	Married, total 812 (n, %)	Divorced, total 43 (n, %)	Single, total 143 (n, %)	Widowed, total 15 (n, %)	P-value
Nondepressed (n=841)	689, 85%*	28, 65%	118, 82%	8, 53%	<0.05
Mild depression (n=138)	101, 13%**	12, 28%	21, 15%	7, 47%	<0.05
Moderate depression (n=31)	22, 3%	3, 7%	4, 3%	–
Severe depression (n=3)	2, 0.2%	–	1, 0.7%	–

Notes: Shown are percentages of married, divorced, singles, and widowed among nondepressed and mildly, moderately and severely depressed subjects

* versus 2 (divorced)

** versus 4 (widowed).

Table 3 Age groups and depression

BDI	Age 24–35 years	Age 36–50 years	Age 51–64 years	P-value
Nondepressed (n=841)	85%*	83%	78%	<0.05
Mild depression (n=138)	11%**	14%	18%	<0.05
Moderate-severe depression (n=34)	4%	3%	4%	NS

Notes: Shown are the percentages of nondepressed and mildly, moderately and severely depressed subjects within each age group

* versus 3 (age 51–64 years)

** versus 3.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; NS, not statistically significant.

Table 4 Relationship between BDI results, work schedule, and depression

BDI results	DW (n=289)	NDRSW (n=358)	DRSW (n=366)	P-value
Nondepressed (n=841)	82%	83%	84%	NS
Mild depression (n=138)	15%	14%	12%	NS
Moderate depression (n=31)	3%	2%	3%	NS
Severe depression (n=3)	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	NS

Note: Shown are the data for each work schedule.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DW, day workers; NDRSW, night and day rotating shift workers; DRSW, day rotating shift workers; NS, not statistically significant.

Table 5 Work schedule, sex, and depression

	Males (n=706)				Females (n=307)
	DW (n=176)	NDRSW (n=228)	DRSW (n=302)	P-value	DW (n=113)	NDRSW (n=130)	DRSW (n=64)	P-value
Non-depression	87%	84%	89%	NS	73%	75%	75%	NS
Mild depression	10%	13%	9%	NS	24%	21%	19%	NS
Moderate depression	2%	2%	2%	NS	3%	5%	6%	NS
Severe depression	0.7%	0.5%	0.3%	NS	/	/	/

Note: Shown are the BDI results for each work schedule according to sex.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DW, day workers; NDRSW, night and day rotating shift workers; DRSW, day rotating shift workers; NS, not statistically significant.

Table 6 Work schedule, working period, and depression

	2005–2010 DW	1990–2004 DW	1970–1989 DW	P-value	2005–2010 NDRSW	1990–2004 NDRSW	1970–1989 NDRSW	P-value	2005–2010 DRSW	1990–2004 DRSW	1970–1989 DRSW	P-value
Nondepressed (n=841)	88%	77%	85%	NS	95%	79%	77%	NS	90%	83%	89%	NS
Mild depression (n=138)	9%	20%	12%	NS	2%	4%	2%	NS	3%	4%	0.7%	NS
Moderate depression (n=31)	3%	3%	2%	NS	2%	4%	2%	NS	3%	4%	0.7%	NS
Severe depression (n=3)	–	–	–	NS	–	0.5%	0.8%	NS	–	–	0.7%	NS

Note: Shown are the BDI results according to duration of the current work schedule.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DW, day workers; NDRSW, night and day rotating shift workers; DRSW, day rotating shift workers; NS, not statistically significant.