Employees' negative and positive work–home interaction and their association with depressive symptoms
Corresponding Author
Anika Nitzsche Dipl. Soz.
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Correspondence to: Anika Nitzsche,Dipl. Soz., Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933 Köln, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJulia Jung PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorHolger Pfaff PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorElke Driller PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Anika Nitzsche Dipl. Soz.
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Correspondence to: Anika Nitzsche,Dipl. Soz., Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Eupener Str. 129, 50933 Köln, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJulia Jung PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorHolger Pfaff PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorElke Driller PhD
Institute for Medical Sociology, Health Services Research and Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Human Sciences and Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
Depression is the leading cause of disability and high costs worldwide. One possibility for preventing depression in the workplace, which has received little consideration so far, is the promotion of a successful balance between work and personal life. The aim of this study was to investigate employees' negative and positive work–home interaction and their association with depressive symptoms.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the micro- and nanotechnology sector in Germany. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using data from N = 213 employees.
Results
The results suggest that while negative work–home interaction is associated with an increased risk for depressive symptoms, positive work–home interaction is correlated with a lower risk. Neither positive nor negative interaction in the home-to-work direction demonstrated a significant association with depressive symptoms.
Conclusion
When attempting to prevent mental illnesses, such as depression, it is important to develop strategies aimed at reducing conflict between work and personal life and promoting a positive exchange between these two domains. Am. J. Ind. Med. 56:590–598, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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