Work related stress and depression

Aims: Depression is leading cause of workplace disability. We analysed in a representative sample work stress related to depression. Methods: We used as samples the Hungarostudy 2006 and 2013 which were representative of the Hungarian adult population according to gender, age groups, education and type of settlement. In the Hungarostudy 2006 survey 2263 active workers completed structured interviews; there were 973 active workers in Hungarostudy 2013. Work stress was measured with the Siegrist Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment (OC) questionnaire; depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). We used as further measurements job insecurity, workplace social support and demographic data. Results: The prevalance of high ERI (above 1) increased from 18,3% (2006) to 28,6% (2013) in the Hungarian working population. OC and other work stress factors showed similar increase from 2006 to 2013. People with high ERI in 2006 had 3,1 times higher risk of higher rate of elevated depressive symptoms (BDI 10 or more), in 2013 the OR increased to 6 (p