Depressive Symptomatology, Presenteeism Productivity, and Quality of Life: A Moderated Mediation Model

Association between sickness presenteeism and depressive symptoms in Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korean workers have reported various types of sickness presenteeism (SP: continuing to attend work during illness). Understanding SP through mental health perspectives will help to make practical strategy for better working conditions. We examined the association between SP and depression among Korean workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in relation with the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

Data from the 2020 Korean Community Health Survey were used as a representative nationwide sample dataset. We surveyed the experience of depression in the last two weeks from individuals who worked more than a week recently. We investigated the associations between SP and depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were scored using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the significance of the associations.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data obtained from 84,514 participants revealed that 1700 (2.2 %) participants reported experiencing depressive symptoms in 2020. Employees with SP showed higher association with depressive symptoms than employers or self-employed individuals (OR = 2.18, 95 % CI: 1.85, 2.56 among employees vs. OR = 1.76, 95 % CI: 1.29, 2.40 among employers or self-employed individuals).

CONCLUSION

SP has become more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. A protective strategy against SP among vulnerable workers is necessary for a healthier and safer society.

The relationship between presenteeism, quality of life and social support in higher education professionals: A cross-sectional path analysis

Presenteeism is the practice of being present at workplace, but not being able to carry out all the tasks due to health problems. Social support globally associated with health and wellbeing might positively influence presenteeism and consequently, the quality of life of these professionals. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between presenteeism, quality of life and social support in the work of non-teaching and non-research professionals within the context of higher education. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which sociodemographic data were collected and the Portuguese versions of the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6) (which includes the dimensions work-completed and distraction avoided) and Quality of Life Index (EUROSHIS-QOL-8) and the subscales of Supervisor’s Social Support and Peers’ Social Support of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) were used. The questionnaire was applied online, and 322 professionals from a public university higher education institution in Northern Portugal participated in the study. Presenteeism was reported by 97 (30.1%) professionals. The peers’ social support was positively associated with quality of life. The supervisor’s social support was positively associated with distraction avoided and work completed and positively indirectly associated with quality of life, and the association was mediated by distraction avoided. We conclude that implementing strategies that can promote social support in the work context, namely strengthening networks between colleagues and competent and well-trained supervisors may prevent or reduce presenteeism in higher education professionals, as well as, provide a better quality of life.

Remission of symptoms is not equal to functional recovery: Psychosocial functioning impairment in major depression

The ultimate goal of depression treatment is to achieve functional recovery. Psychosocial functioning is the main component of functional impairment in depressed patients. The concept of psychosocial functioning has an early origin; however, its concept and connotation are still ambiguous, which is the basic and key problem faced by the relevant research and clinical application. In this study, we start from the paradox of symptoms remission and functional recovery, describe the concept, connotation, and characteristics of psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients, and re-emphasize its importance in depression treatment to promote research and clinical applications related to psychosocial functioning impairment in depressed patients to achieve functional recovery.

Presenteeism and Productivity: The Role of Biomarkers and Hormones

Purpose. This study aimed to assess whether self-reported productivity despite presenteeism may be affected by biomarkers and hormones and how these physiological indicators can interact with each other to explain the presenteeism dimensions. Methods. This pilot study included 180 healthy participants with a mean age of 41.22 years (SD = 13.58), 76.11% of whom were female. The dependent variable included a self-reported measure of productivity loss due to presenteeism: the Stanford Presenteeism Scale 6. This study also includes physiological indicators such as biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood glucose) and hormones (cortisol and TSH thyroid hormone). Results. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that CRP moderated the relationship between cortisol levels and productivity despite presenteeism. Moreover, the increase of TSH moderated the relationship between cortisol, glycemia, and employees’ capacity to complete work tasks while sick. Conclusions. The results highlight TSH’s moderating role in decreasing employees’ capacity to fulfill tasks when these individuals have high levels of glycemia and cortisol in their blood. These findings have practical and theoretical implications based on a fuller understanding of how biomarkers and hormones explain productivity despite presenteeism.

Mediating Roles of Cognitive Complaints on Relationships between Insomnia, State Anxiety, and Presenteeism in Japanese Adult Workers

Complaints of cognitive functions (CCFs), defined as subjective cognitive dysfunction, affect social function; additionally, for workers, this condition is an important factor in presenteeism and mediates the effect of depressive symptoms on presenteeism. This study aimed to investigate whether CCFs mediate the relationships among insomnia, state anxiety (SA), and presenteeism. Participants were 471 Japanese adult workers evaluated using the Athens Insomnia Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y), Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment, and Work Limitations Questionnaire 8 to assess insomnia, SA, CCFs, and presenteeism, respectively. Path analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between variables. CCFs significantly mediated the associations among insomnia, SA, and presenteeism. To address the presenteeism associated with insomnia and SA, it may be useful to assess the mediating roles of CCFs.

Associations between the depressive symptoms, subjective cognitive function, and presenteeism of Japanese adult workers: a cross-sectional survey study

Background

Presenteeism has attracted much attention in the research into mental health. However, how cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms affect presenteeism remains unknown. Therefore, this study examined the correlation between subjective cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, and work limitations.

Methods

We collected data from 477 adult workers in Japan. We evaluated subjective cognitive function using the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (COBRA), depressive symptoms with the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and work limitations with the Work Limitations Questionnaire 8 (WLQ-8). The relations between depressive symptoms, cognitive complaints, and work limitations were examined using Spearman’s rank correlations and multiple regression analysis. It was hypothesized that cognitive complaints would mediate the effects of depressive symptoms on work productivity loss, which was tested using path analysis.

Results

The results indicated that cognitive complaints were significantly correlated with work limitations and depressive symptoms. Multiple regression analysis, using the WLQ-8 productivity loss score as the dependent variable, revealed that COBRA and PHQ-9 scores were significant predictors of work productivity loss. We performed path analysis using PHQ-9, COBRA, and WLQ-8 productivity loss scores and created a path diagram, which revealed that the direct effects of both depressive symptoms and cognitive dysfunction on work productivity loss were statistically significant. Moreover, depressive symptoms indirectly affected work productivity loss through subjective cognitive impairment. There was no significant interaction effect between depressive symptoms and cognitive complaints.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that work limitations may be predicted by not only depressive symptoms but also cognitive complaints. Moreover, subjective cognitive impairment may mediate the effect of depressive symptoms on presenteeism among adult workers.

Does Depression Mediate the Effect of Work Organization Conditions on Job Performance?

OBJECTIVE

The present study proposes to shed light on the impact of workers' depression on their work performance.

METHODS

We implemented a path analyses adjusted for design effects resulting from cluster sampling using MPlus software on a sample of 1957 workers. These analyses allowed us to evaluate direct and indirect effects (mediation) while taking into account the nonindependence of observations due to cluster sampling (workers nested in their workplace).

RESULTS

Results indicate that three indirect associations were found to be significant. Psychological demands, work schedule, and job insecurity were indirectly associated with lower levels of professional efficacy/job performance because of their positive associations with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

The results obtained suggest that interventions targeting specific work organization conditions could be warranted.

Does Subjective Cognitive Function Mediate the Effect of Affective Temperaments on Functional Disability in Japanese Adults?

PURPOSE

Functional disability is affected by subjective cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and affective temperaments in adults. However, the role of subjective cognitive function as a mediator of affective temperaments in functional disability remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine how subjective cognitive function mediates the effect of affective temperaments on functional disability in adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 544 participants completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the cognitive complaints in bipolar disorder rating assessment (COBRA), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS). The association among these instruments was evaluated by multiple regression and covariance structure analyses.

RESULTS

The structural equation model showed that the COBRA scores could be predicted directly by the four affective temperaments of the TEMPS-A (cyclothymic, depressive, irritable, and anxious) and indirectly by the PHQ-9. Moreover, the SDS score was predicted directly by these four affective temperaments and indirectly by the COBRA and PHQ-9.

CONCLUSION

Subjective cognitive function mediates the effect of affective temperaments on functional disability in Japanese adults. However, the cross-sectional design may limit the identification of causal associations between the parameters. In the present study, the participants were from a specific community population; therefore, the results may not be generalizable to other communities.

Evaluation Of Subjective Cognitive Function Using The Cognitive Complaints In Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (COBRA) In Japanese Adults

PURPOSE

To examine the relationship between depressive symptoms, subjective cognitive function, and quality of life in Japanese adults using the Cognitive Complaints in Bipolar Disorder Rating Assessment (COBRA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated 585 adult community volunteers using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for evaluation of depressive symptoms and the COBRA for evaluation of subjective cognitive function. We additionally used the 8-item Short-Form Health Survey and the Sheehan Disability Scale to evaluate the quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

Measures of subjective cognitive function were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms and QoL. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that depressive symptoms directly and indirectly decreased QoL via their effects on subjective cognitive dysfunction. Measures of depressive symptoms were more closely related to QoL than were measures of subjective cognitive function.

LIMITATIONS

Study participants were general adult population community volunteers and included healthy people; thus, these results may not be generalizable to patients with depression or bipolar disorder. In addition, the cross-sectional design of this study prevented the identification of causal relationships among the parameters.

CONCLUSION

Changes in subjective cognitive function may affect QoL via depressive symptoms. Evaluations of subjective cognitive function may help identify factors that reduce QoL.