The relationship between nonstandard working and mental health in a representative sample of the South Korean population

Subcontractors and increased risk for work-related diseases and absenteeism

BACKGROUND

Despite increasing reliance on subcontracting in many economic sectors, there is little information available on occupational health and safety issues among subcontractor employees. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of subcontracting on self-reported health problems and absences due to occupational accidents and sickness using a nationally representative sample from South Korea.

METHODS

The data used were sampled from the second wave of the Korean Working Conditions Survey [2010]. Information on 3,282 parent firm employees and 728 subcontractor employees was obtained. For the logistic regression model, the outcomes were work-related health problems and absenteeism. The independent variables were personal and occupational characteristics, job aspects, and working hazards.

RESULTS

Subcontractor employees were significantly more likely to experience health problems than the employee at parent firms. In particular, subcontractors' risk of injuries and anxiety/depression increased twofold (odd ratios, OR=2.01, 95% confidence interval, CIs, 1.24-3.26) and threefold (OR=2.95, 95% CIs 1.52-5.73), respectively, after controlling for potential variables. In addition, subcontractor employees were three times more likely than employees at parent firms to miss work due to illness (OR=3.56; 95% CIs 2.02-6.26). Working conditions, especially those related to job aspects and workplace exposures, attenuated these risks.

CONCLUSION

Subcontracting workers were found to have a higher risk of work-related diseases and a higher absenteeism rate than parent firm workers. Our study highlights the need to protect and improve the occupational health and safety of subcontractor employees.

The relationship between depressive symptoms among female workers and job stress and sleep quality

OBJECTIVE

Recently, workers' mental health has become important focus in the field of occupational health management. Depression is a psychiatric illness with a high prevalence. The association between job stress and depressive symptoms has been demonstrated in many studies. Recently, studies about the association between sleep quality and depressive symptoms have been reported, but there has been no large-scaled study in Korean female workers. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between job stress and sleep quality, and depressive symptoms in female workers.

METHODS

From Mar 2011 to Aug 2011, 4,833 female workers in the manufacturing, finance, and service fields at 16 workplaces in Yeungnam province participated in this study, conducted in combination with a worksite-based health checkup initiated by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). In this study, a questionnaire survey was carried out using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form(KOSS-SF), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI) and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale(CES-D). The collected data was entered in the system and analyzed using the PASW (version 18.0) program. A correlation analysis, cross analysis, multivariate logistic regression analysis, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

Among the 4,883 subjects, 978 subjects (20.0%) were in the depression group. Job stress(OR=3.58, 95% CI=3.06-4.21) and sleep quality(OR=3.81, 95% CI=3.18-4.56) were strongly associated with depressive symptoms. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that job stress displayed explanatory powers of 15.6% on depression while sleep quality displayed explanatory powers of 16.2%, showing that job stress and sleep quality had a closer relationship with depressive symptoms, compared to the other factors. The multivariate logistic regression analysis yielded odds ratios between the 7 subscales of job stress and depressive symptoms in the range of 1.30-2.72 and the odds ratio for the lack of reward was the highest(OR=2.72, 95% CI=2.32-3.19). In the partial correlation analysis between each of the 7 subscales of sleep quality (PSQI) and depressive symptoms, the correlation coefficient of subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction were 0.352 and 0.362, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that the depressive symptoms of female workers are closely related to their job stress and sleep quality. In particular, the lack of reward and subjective sleep factors are the greatest contributors to depression. In the future, a large-scale study should be performed to augment the current study and to reflect all age groups in a balanced manner. The findings on job stress, sleep, and depression can be utilized as source data to establish standards for mental health management of the ever increasing numbers of female members of the workplace.

Health Disparities among Wage Workers Driven by Employment Instability in the Republic of Korea

Even though labor market flexibility continues to be a source of grave concern in terms of employment instability, as evidenced by temporary employment, only a few longitudinal studies have examined the effects of employment instability on the health status of wage workers. Against this backdrop, this study assesses the manner in which changes in employment type affect the health status of wage workers. The data originate from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study's health-related surveys for the first through fourth years (n = 1,789; 1998 to 2001). This study estimates potential damage to self-rated health through the application of a generalized estimating equation, according to specific levels of employment instability. While controlling for age, socioeconomic position, marital status, health behavior, and access to health care, the study analysis confirms that changes in employment type exert significant and adverse effects on health status for a given year (OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.10–1.96), to an extent comparable to the marked effects of smoking on human health (OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.05–2.04). Given the global prevalence of labor flexibility, policy interventions must be implemented if employment instability triggers broad discrepancies not only in social standing, wage, and welfare benefits, but also in health status.

The effects of employment conditions on smoking status and smoking intensity: the analysis of Korean labor & income panel 8(th)-10(th) wave

BACKGROUND

The neoliberal policies and its socioeconomic consequences in Korea have made employment conditions insecure and affected employees' health as well.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

To examine the association between employment condition and smoking status, we selected male respondents aged 20-59 that participated in all of the 8(th)-10(th) wave of Korean Labor and Income Panel Study(KLIPS) which is a nationally representative data. Precarious working was significantly associated with smoking compared to standard working even after adjusting for socioeconomic indicators and self rated health status. After controlling for overall life satisfaction, the odds ratio of smoking among precarious workers decreased, but it was still marginally significant (OR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.99 to 2.07). A relation between precarious working and heavy smoking was also significant. Precarious working was associated with a decreased likelihood of quitting smoking, while it was not significant any more after adjusting for overall satisfaction on life. Precarious work was also related to a higher likelihood of relapse among former smokers, but was not significant after adjusting for other confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

Precarious workers were more likely to be smokers and heavy smokers than standard workers. Unemployment is also a significant risk factor for decreased quitting and smoking relapse. However, insecure employment was an even more consistent determinant of current smoking behavior than unemployment.

Health inequalities policy in Korea: current status and future challenges

In recent years, health inequalities have become an important public health concern and the subject of both research and policy attention in Korea. Government reports, as well as many epidemiological studies, have provided evidence that a wide range of health outcomes and health-related behaviors are socioeconomically patterned, and that the magnitude of health inequalities is even increasing. However, except for the revised Health Plan 2010 targets for health equity, few government policies have explicitly addressed health inequalities. Although a number of economic and social policies may have had an impact on health inequalities, such impact has scarcely been evaluated. In this review, we describe the current status of research and policy on health inequalities in Korea. We also suggest future challenges of approaches and policies to reduce health inequalities and highlight the active and intensive engagement of many policy sectors and good evidence for interventions that will make meaningful reduction of health inequalities possible.

The recognition of occupational diseases attributed to heavy workloads: experiences in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan

OBJECTIVE

Health problems caused by long working hours and work stress have gained growing concerns in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. In all the three countries, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and mental disorders attributed to heavy workloads or stressful work events are considered compensable occupational diseases by workers' compensation systems. This study compared the trends of such cases and correlated the trends with changes in working hours during the period from 1980 to 2010.

METHODS

Data on occupational diseases were obtained from official statistics of the workers' compensation systems. Information on working hours was obtained from official statistics and national surveys of employees.

RESULTS

While occupational cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and mental disorders attributed to work stress were increasingly compensated in all the three countries, the averaged working hours and the percentage of employees with long working hours had been in decline discordantly.

CONCLUSION

Findings of this study suggested that reducing working hours alone is unlikely to reduce the problems of work stress. There is an urgent need to monitor and regulate a wider range of psychosocial work hazards. Especially, precarious employment and its associated health risks should be targeted for effective prevention of stress-related health problems in the workplace.

Tabakentwöhnung bei stationären Patienten mit einer Alkohol- abhängigkeit – Motivationsfaktoren und Erfolgsaussichten

Einleitung: Die Raucherprävalenz ist bei alkoholkranken Personen überdurchschnittlich hoch. Die gesundheitliche Bedeutung der Tabakabstinenz, aber auch potentielle synergistische Effekte auf die Alkoholabstinenz legen nahe, während einer stationären Alkoholbehandlung auch eine Tabakentwöhnung anzubieten. Ziel: Untersucht wurden die Aufhörbereitschaft und der Abstinenzerfolg nach einer Raucherentwöhnung während einer sechswöchigen stationären Alkoholismustherapie bei alkoholkranken Personen mit zusätzlicher psychiatrischer Komorbidität. Methodik: 90 von 94 Personen eines Behandlungsjahrgangs nahmen an der Untersuchung teil. Sie durchliefen eine Psychoedukation zur Tabakabhängigkeit und hatten nachfolgend die Gelegenheit, eine Raucherentwöhnungsgruppe zu besuchen. Erfasst wurden soziodemographische Daten, Motivation sowie die Abstinenzquoten von Tabak und Alkohol am Ende und drei Monate nach der Therapie. Ergebnisse: Wichtige Motivationsgründe für eine Tabakabstinenz sind die Vorteile des Nichtrauchens. 40 % (n = 28) der rauchenden Patienten (n = 69) ließen sich zu einer Tabakentwöhnung motivieren, 25 % (n = 7) schlossen die Behandlung abstinent ab. Auch wenn keiner der Patienten über drei Monate tabakabstinent blieb, so war doch der Anteil alkoholrückfälliger Patienten in der Raucherentwöhnungsgruppe niedriger (21,4 %; n = 6/28) als bei den übrigen Patienten (29,3 %; n = 12/41)). Diskussion: Die Tabakentwöhnung im Rahmen einer stationären Alkoholismusbehandlung scheint nicht von Nachteil für die Patienten zu sein. Bei der Einführung eines Therapieangebotes sollten motivationale Faktoren, Bewältigungsfertigkeiten für rückfallgefährliche Situationen sowie Begleitsymptome komorbider Störungen stärker im Vordergrund stehen als bei anderen Rauchern.

Socioeconomic status and depression across Japan, Korea, and China: exploring the impact of labor market structures

This study explores the effects of socioeconomic status on depression in Japan, Korea, and China, focusing on the differences in their labor market structures. Comparative studies among East Asian societies allow researchers studying depression to analyze the effects of unique institutions within each society while holding constant, to a certain extent, cultural attitudes toward mental disorders. This study uses data from National Family Research of Japan 2003, Korean National Family Survey 2003, and Family Survey of China 2006 to examine the effects of education and labor market positions on depression. The results show that the relationship between socioeconomic status and depression differs among the three societies. In Japan, the type of employment contract has a significant impact on depression, while in Korea, higher educational attainment negatively relates to depression. In China, the type of work organization has a significant impact on depression. Based on these results, two types of labor market structures, aimed at differentiating the relationship between socioeconomic status and depression, are delineated: labor markets with a secured sector, and flexible labor markets.

Association between job stress and insomnia in Korean workers

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between job stress and insomnia in a large nationwide samples of Korean workers.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 8,155 workers from a nationwide sample were recruited. We surveyed the subjects' socio-demographic and work-related characteristics and seven subscales of occupational stress using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale Short Form. Each subscales of job stress was dichotomized into higher or lower group by respective median scores. Insomnia was defined as having at least one of the three sleep symptoms. we performed multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify association between job stress and insomnia.

RESULTS

We found that individuals with relatively high job stress experienced insomnia significantly more frequently, and the significance was maintained even after adjustment for confounding variables(high job demand: OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.47; insufficient job control: OR: 1.13, 95% CI: 0.99-1.29; inadequate social support: OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.47; job insecurity: OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11-1.44; organizational injustice: OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.44; lack of reward: OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04-1.34; discomfort in occupational climate: OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.22-1.57; total job stress: OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.28-1.64).

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that job stress is possible risk factor for insomnia and that particularly discomfort in occupational climate and inadequate social support have more strong relation to insomnia in Korea.

Are the health consequences of temporary employment worse among low educated than among high educated?

BACKGROUND

Despite the inconsistent findings of the growing amount of research analysing the possible health consequences of temporary employment, there is a lack of heterogeneous perspectives. The aim of the study was to analyse whether the health consequences of temporary employment are worse among low educated compared with high educated, after control for health-related selection.

METHODS

A 26-year follow-up study of a cohort of all school leavers in a middle-sized industrial town in northern Sweden was performed between 1981 and 2007. Of those still alive of the original cohort, 94% participated during the whole period. For this study, a sample of participants with temporary and permanent employment contracts between the age of 30 and 42 years was selected (n = 660).

RESULTS

In multivariate logistic regression analyses, an additive synergistic interaction effect was found for low education and high exposure to temporary employment in relation to suboptimal self-rated health, after controlling for health-related selection and sex. An additive antagonistic interaction was found between low education in combination with high exposure to temporary employment in relation to psychological distress, whereas no interaction was found for depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Our hypothesis regarding worse health effects of temporary employment among low educated was partly confirmed. Our results indicate the need to analyse temporary employment from a more heterogeneous perspective as well as in relation to different health outcomes.

Building capacity in workplace health promotion: the case of the Healthy Together e-learning project

The current global economic crisis poses major challenges for workplace health promotion (WHP). Activities that are not perceived to obviously and directly contribute to profits could be sacrificed. This paper argues that WHP must remain centre-stage because of the rights of workers to a healthy, safe working environment but also because of WHP's beneficial financial implications for enterprises. Capacity building for WHP can be developed even within a recessionary environment, particularly if the focus is on the wider workforce, described here as people for whom workplace health promotion may not be their primary function but who have an important role to play in health improvement in workplaces. There is a strong case for the development of the wider workforce based both on the lack of suitably qualified specialists and on the practicalities of having WHP implemented within organizations, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs make up a very significant proportion of the global economy and are identified as a priority area for action internationally. An example of an e-learning course, the Healthy Together programme, developed by a partnership of three countries, is discussed as an approach that has potential to develop capacity for WHP in the current climate. The findings of the evaluation of the Healthy Together programme indicate that there is a real potential in developing e-learning materials for training those with a brief for promoting workplace health and safety in SMEs. Although modifications in some aspects of delivery identified in the evaluation of the pilot course need to be considered, the course was well received, and was reported to be relevant to the learning needs of students, to their workplaces and specifically to small businesses in rural areas. Specific features of the e-learning approach increase its potential to address capacity building for WHP.

Case studies on employment-related health inequalities in countries representing different types of labor markets

The authors selected nine case studies, one country from each cluster of their labor market inequalities typology, to outline the macro-political and economic roots of employment relations and their impacts on health. These countries illustrate variations in labor markets and health, categorized into a global empirical typology. The case studies illustrated that workers' health is significantly connected with labor market characteristics and the welfare system. For a core country, the labor market is characterized by a formal sector. The labor institutions of Sweden traditionally have high union density and collective bargaining coverage and a universal health care system, which correlate closely with positive health, in comparison with Spain and the United States. For a semi-periphery country, the labor market is delineated by a growing informal economy. Although South Korea, Venezuela, and El Salvador provide some social welfare benefits, a high proportion of irregular and informal workers are excluded from these benefits and experience hazardous working conditions that adversely affect their health. Lastly, several countries in the global periphery--China, Nigeria, and Haiti--represent informal work and severe labor market insecurity. In the absence of labor market regulations, the majority of their workers toil in the informal sector in unsafe conditions with inadequate health care.

Depressive symptoms and atypical jobs in France, from the 2003 Decennial health survey

BACKGROUND

The objective is to study the relations between depressive symptoms and atypical jobs in the working population in France and to determine if these associations might be linked with psychosocial and organizational constraints.

METHODS

The data come from the 2003 Decennial health survey and concern 11,895 workers. Depressive symptoms were measured by the CES-D scale. Atypical jobs were defined by employment status (fixed-term or temporary job contract, permanent job contract, self-employed) and by part-time work during working life (involuntary or chosen). Working conditions related to atypical hours and psychosocial factors were also studied.

RESULTS

For both sexes, involuntary part-time work was associated with a higher frequency of depressive symptoms, but part-time work by choice was not. Fixed-term contracts were associated with depressive symptoms only in women. All of these associations persisted after adjustment for psychosocial and organizational factors.

CONCLUSION

The associations between atypical jobs and depressive symptoms differ for job status according to sex and do not seem to be associated with the worst psychosocial working conditions. The interpretation of these results is nonetheless limited in part by the cross-sectional nature of the survey.

Tobacco and psychiatric dual disorders

Smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in the United States. The relationship between tobacco smoking and several forms of cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, and other medical diseases is well recognized and accepted. Recent epidemiological studies are now focusing on the link between tobacco use and psychiatric diseases. Experts now suggest that in the differential diagnosis of "smoker," depression, alcohol dependence, and schizophrenia are highest on the list. Studies are also focusing on the role of secondhand tobacco exposure, either in utero or during childhood, in the risk of dual disorders. Prenatal exposure may alter gene expression and change the risk for a variety of life-long psychiatric diseases, e.g., ADD/ADHD, antisocial personality disorders, substance use disorders, and major depression. Considerable time and effort have been devoted to studying the link between smoking and depression and also schizophrenia. We will focus on less well-studied areas in tobacco use and psychiatric dual disorders (including eating disorders), prenatal and early childhood secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, and the relationship to the genesis of these dual disorders.

Body image dissatisfaction as an important contributor to suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents: gender difference and mediation of parent and peer relationships

OBJECTIVES

This study was to examine not only the contribution of body image dissatisfaction to suicidal ideation, according to gender, but the mediating role of parent and peer relationships on the association between body image dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation.

METHODS

Data from the 2004 Korean Education and Employment Panel, a school-based survey administered to a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents, are used in the study. With the exception of participants with missing data on important questions (suicidal ideation, self-evaluated body image, self-reported weight/height, risk factors related to suicide), information from 5426 students (2896 males and 2530 females) in grades 9 and 12 was separately analyzed along gender lines using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

In both genders, body image dissatisfaction contributed to suicidal ideation, after controlling for covariates (i.e., school type, perceived family economic hardship, parent-related negative life events, delinquent behaviors, unhealthy behaviors, and self-efficacy). Such association existed throughout all body mass index ranges, and underweight males and normal females were most vulnerable to suicidal ideation if they are dissatisfied with their bodies. Parent and peer relationships partially mediated the association between body image dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation in both genders, but these effects were very small.

CONCLUSIONS

How adolescents evaluate their body image may be an important indicator of suicidal ideation. Future research should further test the link between body dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation, even after controlling for other important forms of psychopathology known to be associated with these issues.

[Multiple roles and health among Korean women]

OBJECTIVES

Most studies about multiple roles and women's health suggested that combining with paid job, being married and having children was more likely to improve health status than in case of single or traditional roles. We investigated whether there was better health outcome in multiple roles among Korean women coinciding with previous studies of other nations.

METHODS

Data were from the 2005 Korea National Health & Nutritional Examination Survey, a subsample of women aged 25-59 years (N=2,943). Health status was assessed for self-rated poor health, perceived stress and depression, respectively based on one questionnaire item. The age-standardized prevalence of all health outcomes were calculated by role categories and socioeconomic status. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of self rated health, perceived stress, and depression with multiple roles adjusted for age, education, household income, number of children and age of children.

RESULTS

Having multiple roles with working role was not associated with better health and psychological wellbeing. Compared to those with traditional roles, employed women more frequently experienced perceived stress, with marital and/or parental roles. Non-working single mothers suffered depression more often than women with traditional roles or other role occupancy. Socioeconomic status indicators were potent independent correlates of self-rated health and perceived stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Employment of women with other roles did not confer additional health benefit to traditional family responsibility. Juggling of work and family responsibility appeared more stressful than traditional unemployed parental and marital role in Korean women.

Closing the gap in a generation: health equity through action on the social determinants of health

The Commission on Social Determinants of Health, created to marshal the evidence on what can be done to promote health equity and to foster a global movement to achieve it, is a global collaboration of policy makers, researchers, and civil society, led by commissioners with a unique blend of political, academic, and advocacy experience. The focus of attention is on countries at all levels of income and development. The commission launched its final report on August 28, 2008. This paper summarises the key findings and recommendations; the full list is in the final report.

Gender, precarious work, and chronic diseases in South Korea

OBJECTIVE

In view of the growing number of nonstandard workers in South Korea, this study examined whether nonstandard workers reported poorer health compared to standard workers and assessed whether there were gender differences in the association between employment status and chronic health outcomes.

METHOD

Data were taken from a representative-weighted sample of 1,563 men and 1,045 women aged 20-64, from the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Nonstandard employment included part-time work, temporary work, and day labor. Self-rated health and self-reported chronic disease conditions were used as health measures.

MAIN RESULTS

Nonstandard employment was significantly associated with higher risk of self-rated health and chronic conditions after adjusting for socioeconomic position (education, occupational class, and income) and health behaviors (cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, regular exercise, and health examinations). However, the pattern in the relation between nonstandard work and specific health problems greatly differed by gender. Among men, nonstandard work arrangements were significantly associated with musculoskeletal disorders (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.24-3.19) and liver disease (OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.27-6.32). Among women, nonstandard employment was related to mental disorders (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.40-7.56).

CONCLUSION

The findings clearly indicate the need for further study of the observed associations, particularly prospective and analytical studies.

Job stress and depressive symptoms among Korean employees: the effects of culture on work

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and job stress, as measured by the KOSS, among Korean employees in small- and medium-sized enterprises, and examined which components of stress are involved in the risk for depression among males and females.

METHODS

Data were collected from a work-stress survey of full-time employees of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Incheon, South Korea. A total of 3,013 participants were included in the analysis. Job stress was measured using 24 items (7 sub-scales) of the short form of Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS-SF), and depressive symptoms were evaluated using Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D).

RESULTS

After adjustment for confounding variables, most of subscales of job stress contributed to an increased risk of depressive symptoms, and job insecurity (male; OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.61-2.40, female; OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.42-2.70) and occupational climate (male; OR = 1.84, 95%CI: 1.49-2.28, female; OR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.30-2.49) showed strong associations in both male and female. Other subscales revealed different effects for males and females; for males, job demands (OR = 1.68, 95%CI: 1.43-2.20), inadequate social support (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.23-1.94), and lack of rewards (OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.48-2.37) were associated with depressive symptoms, whereas for females, organizational injustice (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.14-2.30) was associated with depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that job stress may play a significant role in increasing the risk of depressive symptoms, and that further preventive efforts and research are needed to reduce job stress and address health problems caused by job stress among Korean employees.

The impact of work environment on mood disorders and suicide: Evidence and implications

The purpose of this paper is to review the evidence estimating an impact of occupational factors on mood disorders and suicide, and the efficacy of interventions. This review is based on literature searches using Medline and Psych INFO from 1966 to 2007 (keywords: work stress, job insecurity, job strain, shift work, violence, occupational health, mood disorders, depression, and suicide). To establish the relationship between occupational variables and mood disorders, we focused on clinically significant disorders rather than depressive symptoms. During the last decade, prospective epidemiological studies have suggested a predictive association between the work environment and mood disorders. Recently, increasing numbers of clinical trials have shown favorable effect size of intervention and suggested preferable return-on-investment results. However, low awareness and social stigma still decrease workers access to treatment. Mental health professionals in conjunction with employers have to devise a creative system to make the quality care being offered more accessible to employees. In addition, further outcome data is needed to evaluate the benefit of managing mood disorders in the workplace, and to foster awareness of positive implications for employees, employers, their families, and the society at large. In addition, the work environment, with its chemical (e.g. chemosensory factors, pollutants), physical (e.g. lighting, noise, temperature, outdoor views and activities), biological (e.g., chronobiological factors, allergens, infectious agents), psychological (e.g. demand-control, effort-reward balance), social (e.g. cohesiveness, support), and organizational (e.g. leadership styles) component should meet minimal standards, and may improve with striving towards the optimum.

Gender differences in correlates of mental health among elderly Koreans

OBJECTIVE

. This study examined the differential impact of social roles and socioeconomic resources on the mental health of Korean men and women aged 65 years or older.

METHODS

The study sample was a weighted population of 930 people (905 survey samples) aged 65 years or older who had responded to the health behavior survey of the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

RESULTS

We observed striking gender differences in the correlates of poor mental health. Living alone was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in men but not in women. Living in a multigenerational family without a spouse and having a lower household income were significantly associated with poor mental health in both men and women.

DISCUSSION

We discuss the intriguing evidence of gender differences in the correlates of mental health within the context of traditional Asian society and suggest further research on social components of gender differences in mental health across diverse cultures.

[Experience of parent-related negative life events, mental health, and delinquent behavior among Korean adolescents]

OBJECTIVES

This study examined the relationship of parent-related negative life events with mental health and delinquent behaviors among Korean adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 2,976 high school first-grade pupils (1,498 boys & 1,478 girls) taking part in the third wave of Korean Youth Panel Survey completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding parent-related life events, depressive feelings, suicidal ideation, delinquent behaviors, demographic characteristics, parental socioeconomic status, social support, and social capital. Data analyses were conducted using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

After adjusting for all covariates, the more parent-related negative life events adolescents experienced throughout their whole life, the more likely adolescent were to have mental and behavioral problems. A significant dose-response relationship between them was more clearly observed in girls than in boys. The experience of parent-related negative events during childhood was significantly associated with suicidal ideation and delinquent behaviors for boys, and with depressive feelings for girls during adolescence. Indeed, parental social support, social capital, and having a close friend with delinquent behaviors, especially for girls, partially mediated the relationship between parent-related negative life events and both outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed a clear dose-response relationship of frequency of parent-related negative life events with poor mental and behavioral health for both genders. The residual effect of being exposed to parent-related events during childhood on mental health and delinquent behaviors during adolescence still remained.