Relationship between Effort‐Reward Imbalance, Low Social Support and Depressive State among Japanese Male Workers

Oxytocin and Social Relationships: From Attachment to Bond Disruption

Social relationships throughout life are vital for well-being and physical and mental health. A significant amount of research in animal models as well as in humans suggests that oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in the development of the capacity to form social bonds, the mediation of the positive aspects of early-life nurturing on adult bonding capacity, and the maintenance of social bonding. Here, we focus on the extensive research on a socially monogamous rodent model organism, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). OT facilitates mating-induced pair bonds in adults through interaction with the mesolimbic dopamine system. Variation in striatal OT receptor density predicts resilience and susceptibility to neonatal social neglect in female prairie voles. Finally, in adults, loss of a partner results in multiple disruptions in OT signaling, including decreased OT release in the striatum, which is caused by an activation of the brain corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) system. The dramatic behavioral consequence of partner loss is increased depressive-like behavior reminiscent of bereavement. Importantly, infusions of OT into the striatum of adults prevents the onset of depressive-like behavior following partner loss, and evoking endogenous OT release using melanocortin agonists during neonatal social isolation rescues impairments in social bonding in adulthood. This work has important translational implications relevant to the disruptions of social bonds in childhood and in adults.

Impaired mental well-being and psychosocial risk: a cross-sectional study in female nursing home direct staff

OBJECTIVES

The present study sought to quantify the impaired mental well-being and psychosocial stress experienced by nursing home staff and to determine the relationship between impaired mental well-being assessed on the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and exposure to psychosocial stress assessed on Siegrist's effort/reward and overcommitment model.

METHODS

A transverse study was conducted in France on 2471 female employees in 105 nursing homes for the elderly. Personal and occupational data were collected by questionnaire for 668 housekeepers, 1454 nursing assistants and 349 nurses.

RESULTS

36.8% of participants (n=896) showed impaired mental well-being, 42.7% (n=1039) overcommitment and 9% (n=224) effort/reward imbalance. Overcommitment (prevalence ratio (PR)=1.27; 95% CI (1.21 to 1.34)) and effort-reward imbalance (PR=1.19; 95% CI (1.12 to 1.27)) were significantly associated with presence of impaired mental well-being after adjustment for personal factors (age and private life events). Taking effort and reward levels into account, the frequency of impaired mental well-being was highest in case of exposure to great extrinsic effort and low rewards of any type: esteem, PR=3.53, 95% CI (3.06 to 4.08); earnings, PR=3.48, 95% CI (2.99 to 4.06); or job security, PR=3.30, 95% CI (2.88 to 3.78). Participants in situations of overcommitment and of effort/reward imbalance were at the highest risk of impaired mental well-being: PR=3.86, 95% CI (3.42 to 4.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Several changes in nursing home organisation can be suggested to reduce staff exposure to factors of psychosocial stress. Qualitative studies of the relation between impaired mental well-being and psychosocial stress in nursing home staff could guide prevention of impaired mental well-being at work.

Depressão em trabalhadores de linhas elétricas de alta tensão

OBJETIVO: Investigar a associação entre desequilíbrio esforços-recompensas no trabalho e sintomas depressivos em trabalhadores de linhas elétricas de alta tensão. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal realizado em 158 trabalhadores de uma empresa de energia elétrica no Nordeste do Brasil. As dimensões do modelo esforço-recompensa (ERI) constituíram as variáveis independentes principais e a variável resposta foi depressão, medida pela escala Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D). Os dados foram analisados com técnicas de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: Trabalhadores no grupo de baixa recompensa apresentaram prevalência de depressão 6,2 vezes maior em relação àqueles no grupo de alta recompensa. A prevalência de depressão foi 3,3 vezes maior entre os trabalhadores em condição de desequilíbrio esforço-recompensa do que entre aqueles em situação de equilíbrio. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de depressão estava fortemente associada às dimensões de esforços e recompensas presentes no trabalho dos eletricitários.

Gender specificity in the prediction of clinically diagnosed depression. Results of a large cohort of Belgian workers

BACKGROUND

The recent increase in the incidence of clinical depression represents a major public health and socio-economical burden. Depression has its roots in both professional and private domains but few epidemiological studies have looked at predictors of long term clinical depression as defined by a sick-leave of 28 days or more and a diagnosis by a general practitioner in both genders.

OBJECTIVES

To study baseline predictors of long term spells of clinical depression within the framework of a large prospective study, the Belstress Study, in 6,659 men and 2,737 women aged 35-59 years at baseline survey.

METHODS

Kaplan-Meyer survival curves and Cox regression models were used in order to relate long term clinical depression defined by a sick-leave of 28 days or more to baseline socio-demographic and work and non-work variables.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Density incidence of long term clinical depression is 0.5 years and 1.1/1,000 persons/months for men and women respectively. In univariate analyses specific gender predictors were observed as for men predictors besides level of education, were work related: high job-strain OR 1.67 (CI 95% 1.03; 2.71) and work dissatisfaction OR 1.78 (CI 95% 1.09; 2.91) whereas for women baseline predictors are related to private life dissatisfaction OR 1.84 (CI 95% 1.16; 2.91) and to a lesser degree low social support from co-workers OR 1.50 (CI 95% 0.93; 2.40). In both genders baseline severe depression symptoms defined by a CES-D score of percentile 90 or above is a predictor of long term sick-leave for clinical depression. In multivariate analyses, in a model without baseline CES-D high job-strain and job dissatisfaction remain independent predictors for incident clinical depression in men whereas only private life dissatisfaction remains a significant predictor in women. When added to the model CES-D is the most powerful predictor of clinical depression in both genders. Together with level of education, work dissatisfaction remains borderline significant in men whereas private life dissatisfaction remains an independent predictor for clinical depression in women. In men baseline symptoms of depression alleviate the impact of high job-strain on incident clinical depression whereas in women, private life dissatisfaction remains an independent predictor of clinical depression.

The CRF system mediates increased passive stress-coping behavior following the loss of a bonded partner in a monogamous rodent

Social relationships significantly influence physiology and behavior, including the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, anxiety, and mental health. Disruption of social bonds through separation or death often results in profound grieving, depression, and physical illness. As the monogamous prairie vole forms enduring, selective pair bonds with the mating partner, they provide an animal model to study the physiological consequences of pair bonding and, thus, the loss of the bonded partner. Male prairie voles were paired with a novel female or male sibling. After 5 days, half of the males of each group were separated from the partner. Elevated plus-maze, forced swim, and tail suspension tests were used to assess anxiety-like and passive stress-coping behaviors indicative of depressive-like behavior. Following 4 days of separation from the female but not the male partner, experimental males displayed increased passive stress-coping. This effect was abolished by long-term intracerebroventricular infusion of a nonselective corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist without disrupting the bond itself. Both CRF type 1 and 2 receptors were involved in the emergence of passive stress-coping behavior. Furthermore, pairing with a female was associated with elevated CRF mRNA in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and partner loss elicited a pronounced increase in circulating corticosteroid and adrenal weight. We speculate that the CRF system may mediate an aversive affect following separation from the female partner, which may facilitate proximity seeking between the pair-bonded individuals. Hence, the prairie vole model may provide insights into brain mechanisms involved in the psychopathological consequences of partner loss.

The association of social support at work and in private life with mental health and antidepressant use: the Health 2000 Study

BACKGROUND

Social support is assumed to protect mental health, but it is not known whether low social support at work increases the risk of common mental disorders or antidepressant medication. This study, carried out in Finland 2000-2003, examined the associations of low social support at work and in private life with DSM-IV depressive and anxiety disorders and subsequent antidepressant medication.

METHODS

Social support was measured with self-assessment scales in a cohort of 3429 employees from a population-based health survey. A 12-month prevalence of depressive or anxiety disorders was examined with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), which encompasses operationalized criteria for DSM-IV diagnoses and allows the estimation of DSM-IV diagnoses for major mental disorders. Purchases of antidepressants in a 3-year follow-up were collected from the nationwide pharmaceutical register of the Social Insurance Institution.

RESULTS

Low social support at work and in private life was associated with a 12-month prevalence of depressive or anxiety disorders (adjusted odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.48-2.82 for supervisory support, 1.65, 95% CI 1.05-2.59 for colleague support, and 1.62, 95% CI 1.12-2.36 for private life support). Work-related social support was also associated with subsequent antidepressant use.

LIMITATIONS

This study used a cross-sectional analysis of DSM-IV mental disorders. The use of purchases of antidepressant as an indicator of depressive and anxiety disorders can result in an underestimation of the actual mental disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Low social support, both at work and in private life, is associated with DSM-IV mental disorders, and low social support at work is also a risk factor for mental disorders treated with antidepressant medication.

The impact of effort-reward imbalance on quality of life among Japanese working men

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important measure of health outcome in working and healthy populations. Here, we investigated the impact of effort-reward imbalance (ERI), a representative work-stress model, on HRQL of Japanese working men. The study targeted 1,096 employees from a manufacturing plant in Japan. To assess HRQL and ERI, participants were surveyed using the Japanese version of the Short-Form 8 Health Survey (SF-8) and effort-reward imbalance model. Of the 1,096 employees, 1,057 provided valid responses to the questionnaire. For physical summary scores, the adjusted effort-reward imbalance odds ratios of middle vs. bottom and top vs. bottom tertiles were 0.24 (95% confidence interval, 0.08-0.70) and 0.09 (95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.28), respectively. For mental summary scores, ratios were 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.07-0.63) and 0.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.25), respectively. These findings demonstrate that effort-reward imbalance is independently associated with HRQL among Japanese employees.

Effect of web-based assertion training for stress management of Japanese nurses

AIM AND BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of web-based assertion training programmes for Japanese hospital nurses based on their assertion knowledge, attitude and behaviour, job stress and depression. Job stress has been reported to be high among Japanese hospital nurses, and it is thought that assertion, one type of communication skill, could help nurses to better manage their job stress.

METHOD

Twenty-five nurses from an urban tertiary hospital in western Japan completed the 70-minute assertion programme during 3 weeks. The changes between pretraining and post-training and between pretraining and 1 month after the training were tested.

RESULT

Results showed that assertion knowledge and voluntary behaviour in assertive behaviour had increased at post-training and remained higher a month later. With regard to job stress, mental workload decreased.

CONCLUSION

The results show the effects of web-based assertion training on assertion skills and stress management for Japanese hospital nurses.

[Status of mental health problems and care in Japanese business establishments]

In order to clarify the status of mental health problems and care in Japanese business establishments, a questionnaire was administered to occupational health staff in various enterprises (243 valid responses, 17.0%). The results reveal that, in most enterprises, there are workers suffering from stress-related disorders. Depression was most often seen (47.2%). Additionally, the results suggest that depression lead to long periods of time off. Therefore, measures against depression in employees are important. There were a lot of offices that executed mental health care by supervisors and managers or occupational health staff, or by educational training, or medical examination, etc. However, a clear statement of the plan concerning mental health care by employers had been executed by only about a half of employers. As the rate of patients or workers with long periods off work was not correlated to the care executed in the office, mental health care in its present status dose not seem to be effective.

Associations of depressive symptoms with regular leisure activity and family social support among Japanese workers

This study was performed to determine the associations of depressive symptoms with regular leisure activity and family social support among Japanese workers. The study participants consisted of 1,605 men and 348 women. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potentially associated variables. Depressive symptoms were associated with lack of regular leisure activity for men [odds ratio (OR) = 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.55-2.71] and for women (OR = 2.53, 95% CI = 1.30-4.95). Depressive symptoms were also associated with lack of family social support for men (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.43-2.43). Although a cross-sectional study does not determine which factors are determinants or consequences, these findings suggest regular leisure activity for men and women and family social support for men are independently associated with depressive symptoms.

Vasopressin and pair-bond formation: genes to brain to behavior

Microtine rodents provide an excellent model for the study of the neurobiology of social bonds. In this review, we discuss how the presence of a microsatellite sequence in the prairie vole vasopressin receptor gene may determine vasopressin receptor binding patterns in the brain and how these patterns may in turn affect social behavior.

Central oxytocin, vasopressin, and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor densities in the basal forebrain predict isolation potentiated startle in rats

Individual differences in resiliency to particular stressors may be mediated by specific neuropeptide receptor patterns in the brain. Here, we explored this issue by using a multivariate approach to identify brain sites in which oxytocin (OTR), vasopressin (V1aR), and corticotropin-releasing factor type 1 (CRF1) or type 2 receptor binding covaried with a measure of isolation-induced anxiety: isolation potentiated startle (IPS). Partial least squares (PLS) analysis identified three binding sites, the shell of the nucleus accumbens (AccSh), lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and intermediate zone of the lateral septum, in which CRF1, V1aR, and OTR receptors, respectively, covaried with IPS. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the three binding sites accounted for more of the variation in IPS as a linear combination than when considered individually. Using the same multiple regression model, the linear combination of the same three binding sites/peptide receptors measured in a new group of animals successfully predicted their IPS values. There were no differences in binding between grouped and isolated animals, suggesting that the patterns are trait effects rather than a consequence of isolation. Based on the finding that CRF1 receptors in the AccSh were positively correlated with IPS, we infused CRF directly into the AccSh and found that it significantly potentiated startle after a short isolation period but not under grouped conditions. This result directly supported the predictions made by the combined PLS/regression approach. These results suggest that the integrated activity of neuropeptide systems mediating both social behavior and anxiety underlie IPS.

Prevalence and Psychosocial Risk Factors of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Pain in Industries of Taiwan: A Nationwide Study

Prevalence of upper extremity disorders and their associations with psychosocial factors in the workplace have received more attention recently. A national survey of cross-sectional design was performed to determine the prevalence rates of upper extremity disorders among different industries. Trained interviewers administered questionnaires to 17,669 workers and data on musculoskeletal complaints were obtained along with information on risk factors. Overall the 1-year prevalence of neck (14.8%), shoulder (16.6%), and hand (12.4%) disorders were higher than those of the upper back (7.1%) and elbow (8.3%) among those who sought medical treatment due to the complaint. Workers in construction and agriculture-related industries showed a higher prevalence of upper extremity disorders. After multiple logistic regression adjusted for age, education, and employment duration, we found job content, physical working condition, a harmonious interpersonal relationship at the workplace and organizational problems were significant determinants of upper extremity disorders in manufacturing and service industries. Male workers in manufacturing industries showed more concern about physical working conditions while female workers in public administration emphasized problems of job content and interpersonal relationships. We concluded that these factors were major job stressors contributing to musculoskeletal pain of the upper extremity.