OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of occupational stress related factors on depression symptoms among 244 policemen in a city in China.

METHODSIn May 2011, 287 policemen from a city public security bureau were recruited to this survey by cluster sampling method. We deleted questionnaires which include missing variables on demographic characteristics and factors associated with occupational stress questionnaires which include over 3 missing items. 244 policemen were included in this study. Depression symptoms and occupational stressors were measured using Chinese version of depression self-reported questionnaire, job content questionnaire, Chinese version of effort-reward imbalances questionnaire, job hazard scale and occupational stress inventory. Depression symptom scores and the relationship between the variables and occupational stress were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis.

RESULTSThe Median (P25-P75) of depression symptom scores of all respondents was 16.50 (11.00-25.00). 144 were policemen with no depression symptoms and 100 were with depression symptoms. The median (P25-P75) of depression symptoms scores among policemen with length of serves <10, 10-19, 20-29 and ≥30 was 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively. The difference of scores was significant among length of serves groups (χ2=9.52, P=0.023). The scores of psychological demands, sleep disorder, daily life stress and negative affectivity among policemen with depression symptoms were 17.00 (8.00-26.00), 16.00 (11.00-24.50), 19.00 (12.00-27.00), and 12.00 (6.25-15.00), respectively, which were higher than those with no depression symptoms (24.00 (22.00-25.00), 8.00 (5.00-13.00), 8.00 (6.00-10.00), 1.00 (0-2.75)), and the differences were significant (Z=3.82, 5.39, 5.15, 6.41, P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that depression symptoms score was positively related to sleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores. Correlations coefficient were 0.44, 0.28, 0.28, 0.33, 0.38, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that self-esteem, daily life stress and negative affectivity had bigger contribution on the depression symptoms scores. The standard regression coefficient was -0.46, 0.19 and 0.13, respectively (P<0.001, P=0.001, P=0.030).

CONCLUSIONSleep disorder, commitment effort, psychological demands, daily life stress, negative affectivity and job hazards scores were the inducement of depression symptoms for policemen. To reduce the daily life stress, negative affectivity and improve the quality of sleep, add to self-esteem, reward and social support have positive effects on reducing the occurrence of depressive symptoms for police.

China ; Depression ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Health ; Police ; Reward ; Self Concept ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore the influencing factors of job satisfaction among enterprise workers.

METHODSBetween November, 2008 and June, 2009, 6 711 workers from 13 enterprises were recruited to this survey by cluster sampling method. Data about job satisfaction, occupational stressors, strains, coping strategy and social support were collected anonymously by using occupational stress instruments, job content questionnaire and effort-reward imbalance questionnaire.

RESULTSMedian (P25-P75) of job satisfaction scores was 40(34-46), which were separately (40.25 ± 7.59) and (38.57 ± 8.62) among female and male workers. The difference showed statistical significance (Z = 6.00, P < 0.01). The job satisfaction score was highest (41.44 ± 6.93) among administrative staff, but lowest (38.89 ± 8.79) among assistant workers. The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 6.64, P < 0.01).Job satisfaction score of shift workers (38.47 ± 8.58) was significantly lower than that of non-shift workers(39.66 ± 8.10) (Z = 4.61, P < 0.01). The job satisfaction scores of workers with weekly job time ≤ 40 h, 41-50 h, 51-59 h and ≥ 60 h were separately (39.86 ± 8.25), (39.23 ± 8.20), (38.68 ± 8.44) and (37.01 ± 8.34). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 54.06, P < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed that job satisfaction was positively related to technology utilize degree (r = 0.26, P < 0.01), free decision latitude(r = 0.32, P < 0.01), reward(r = 0.60, P < 0.01), positive affection (r = 0.45, P < 0.01), superior support(r = 0.49, P < 0.01) and coping strategy (r = 0.16, P < 0.01); however, negatively related to external effort(r = -0.33, P < 0.01), psychological demands (r = -0.34, P < 0.01), physical demands(r = -0.30, P < 0.01), negative emotions (r = -0.41, P < 0.01) and depressive symptoms (r = -0.44, P < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of job dissatisfaction for workers with low reward was about three times as high as that for workers with high reward (OR = 3.44, 95%CI:2.95-4.01), risks of job dissatisfaction for workers with low negative emotions, high positive affection and social support were about two times as high as that for workers with low positive affection, high negative emotions and low social support, with the OR (95%CI) respectively at 2.42 (2.09-2.82), 2.28 (1.95-2.66) and 2.25 (1.94-2.62).

CONCLUSIONOccupational stress, individual features, health status, shiftwork system and work time had great effect on job satisfaction. The main measures of increasing job satisfaction were to improve rewards, increase superior support and decrease negative emotions.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupations ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires