Skip to main page content

• HOME
• Current
• Archive
• Feedback
• Subscribe
• Help

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by PATERNITI, S. Articles by CONSOLI, S. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by PATERNITI, S. Articles by CONSOLI, S. M.

The British Journal of Psychiatry (2002) 181: 111-117
© 2002 The Royal College of Psychiatrists

Psychosocial factors at work, personality traits and depressive symptoms

Longitudinal results from the GAZEL Study

S. PATERNITI, MD

INSERM Unité 360, Paris, France

I. NIEDHAMMER, MD

INSERM U88, Paris, France

T. LANG, MD

INSERM U558, Toulouse, France

S. M. CONSOLI, MD

Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, France

Correspondence: Sabrina Paterniti, INSERM U360, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 84 Bd de l'Hôpital, 75651 Paris CEDEX 13, France. Tel: +33 01 0142162554; fax: +33 01 0142162541; e-mail: paternit{at}chups.jussieu.fr

Declaration of interest None.

Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

See editorial, pp. 96–98, this issue.

Background An association between stressful job conditions and depressive symptoms has been reported. This association could be explained by personality traits.

Aims To examine the relationship between psychosocial factors at work and changes in depressive symptoms, taking into account personality traits.

Method The role of occupational characteristics, psychosocial stress and personality traits in predicting an increase of depressive symptoms was evaluated in 7729 men and 2790 women working at the French National Electricity and Gas Company, with a 3-year follow-up.

Results In men, high decision latitude was predictive of a decrease in the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies — Depression scale (CES—D) scores. In both genders, high job demands and low social support at work were predictive of increased scores, irrespective of personality traits and covariates.

Conclusions Adverse psychosocial work conditions are predictors of depressive symptom worsening, independent of personality traits.

Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue

ELIZABETH WALSH
BJP 2002 181: 0. [Full Text]  

Work, personality and mental health

STEPHEN STANSFELD
BJP 2002 181: 96-98. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. Netterstrom, N. Conrad, P. Bech, P. Fink, O. Olsen, R. Rugulies, and S. Stansfeld The Relation between Work-related Psychosocial Factors and the Development of Depression Epidemiol. Rev., November 1, 2008; 30(1): 118 - 132. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J P E Bonde Psychosocial factors at work and risk of depression: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence Occup. Environ. Med., July 1, 2008; 65(7): 438 - 445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K Waldenstrom, G Ahlberg, P Bergman, Y Forsell, U Stoetzer, M Waldenstrom, and I Lundberg Externally assessed psychosocial work characteristics and diagnoses of anxiety and depression Occup. Environ. Med., February 1, 2008; 65(2): 90 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Niedhammer, J.-F. Chastang, and S. David Importance of psychosocial work factors on general health outcomes in the national French SUMER survey Occup. Med., January 1, 2008; 58(1): 15 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. R. Blackmore, S. A. Stansfeld, I. Weller, S. Munce, B. M. Zagorski, and D. E. Stewart Major Depressive Episodes and Work Stress: Results From a National Population Survey Am J Public Health, November 1, 2007; 97(11): 2088 - 2093. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Moreno-Abril, J. d. D. Luna-del-Castillo, C. Fernandez-Molina, D. Jurado, M. Gurpegui, P. Lardelli-Claret, and R. Galvez-Vargas Factors associated with psychiatric morbidity in Spanish schoolteachers Occup. Med., May 1, 2007; 57(3): 194 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Kivimaki, T. Honkonen, K. Wahlbeck, M. Elovainio, J. Pentti, T. Klaukka, M. Virtanen, and J. Vahtera Organisational downsizing and increased use of psychotropic drugs among employees who remain in employment J Epidemiol Community Health, February 1, 2007; 61(2): 154 - 158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Goldberg, A. Leclerc, S. Bonenfant, J. F. Chastang, A. Schmaus, N. Kaniewski, and M. Zins Cohort profile: the GAZEL Cohort Study Int. J. Epidemiol., February 1, 2007; 36(1): 32 - 39. [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Glozier, C. Hough, M. Henderson, and K. Holland-Elliott Attitudes of Nursing Staff Towards Co-Workers Returning from Psychiatric and Physical Illnesses International Journal of Social Psychiatry, November 1, 2006; 52(6): 525 - 534. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Melchior, N. Krieger, I. Kawachi, L. F. Berkman, I. Niedhammer, and M. Goldberg Work Factors and Occupational Class Disparities in Sickness Absence: Findings From the GAZEL Cohort Study Am J Public Health, July 1, 2005; 95(7): 1206 - 1212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Rozanski Integrating Psychologic Approaches Into the Behavioral Management of Cardiac Patients Psychosom Med, May 1, 2005; 67(Supplement_1): S67 - S73. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Allonier, A Chevalier, M Zins, O Catelinois, S. Consoli, M Goldberg, and G Lahon Anxiety or depressive disorders and risk of ischaemic heart disease among French power company employees Int. J. Epidemiol., August 1, 2004; 33(4): 779 - 786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Minerva BMJ, August 17, 2002; 325(7360): 398 - 398. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. STANSFELD Work, personality and mental health The British Journal of Psychiatry, August 1, 2002; 181(2): 96 - 98. [Full Text] [PDF]