Síntomas depresivos y distrés laboral en trabajadores chilenos: condiciones diferenciales para hombres y mujeres

[Workplace bullying and mental health in Chilean workers: the role of gender]

Mobbing, or bullying in the workplace, has gained relevance in recent decades due to its growing magnitude and negative effects on workers' health. There are various approaches for studying the issue. However, thus far the evidence is scarce in Latin America and is focused on specific samples. This study aims to analyze workplace bullying and its association with mental health in the wage-earning population and to determine the extent to which this association is modified by gender. A survey was conducted with a sample of 1,995 male and female salaried workers in Chile's three main metropolitan areas (Greater Santiago, Greater Valparaíso, and Greater Concepción) with three-stage random selection (blocks, households, and individuals). Prevalence rates for depressive symptoms, use of psychotropic medication, and stress were 10.9%, 12.8%, and 13%, respectively, and there was a strong relationship between mental health variables and workplace bullying, which persisted in the adjusted models. When comparing this association in the models stratified by gender, no significant differences were observed between men and women.

[Associations between psychosocial risk factors, organizational dimensions, and mental health problems related to workplace violence among workers of three Chilean hospitals of high complexity]

The objective was to analyze the association between psychosocial risk factors, organizational dimensions, workplace violence, and indicators of mental health problems in three Chilean hospitals. A total of 1,023 workers answered a questionnaire, and descriptive, bivariate (chi-square), and multivariate (logistic regression with odds ratio as the measure of association) analyses were performed. Of all the interviewees, 14.7% reported workplace violence. Increased odds of workplace violence were associated with exposure to ISOSTRAIN (OR = 2.32, p = 0.001), effort-reward imbalance (OR = 5.52, p ≤ 0.001), tyrannical leadership (OR = 3.02, p ≤ 0.001), and vulnerability (OR = 1.97, p = 0.010). Workers exposed to ISOSTRAIN (OR = 1.78, p = 0.024), effort-reward imbalance (OR = 2.49, p = 0.001), workplace violence (OR = 2.13, p = 0.003), and vulnerability (OR = 2.29, p = 0.001) showed increased odds of high stress when compared to unexposed workers. Workers exposed to effort-reward imbalance (OR = 2.84, p ≤ 0.001) and workplace violence (OR = 1.76, p = 0.041) showed higher odds of reporting depressive symptoms. Those exposed to effort-reward imbalance (OR = 2.07, p ≤ 0.001) and work vulnerability (OR = 1.96, p = 0.001) showed higher odds of consuming psychoactive drugs. Work contexts with psychosocial risk factors, adverse organizational dimensions, and work vulnerability were associated with higher odds of workplace violence. Workers exposed to workplace violence, psychosocial risks, and vulnerability have higher odds of reporting mental health problems.

Prevalência de sintomas de depressão em agentes comunitários de saúde

Resumo Os agentes comunitários de saúde são imprescindíveis e considerados atores importantes para a organização do Sistema Único de Saúde. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a prevalência de sintomas de depressão relacionada aos fatores ocupacionais, sociodemográficos e de estilo de vida dos agentes. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com 400 agentes comunitários, por meio de entrevistas individuais em unidades básicas de saúde de um município situado em Minas Gerais, entre 2015 e 2017. A variável dependente foi a prevalência de sintomas de depressão (Patient Health Questionnaire), e as variáveis independentes foram estresse psicossocial no trabalho (modelo demanda-controle); apoio social; perfil socioeconômico e demográfico; autopercepção de saúde; atividade física; características e condições de trabalho; capacidade para o trabalho e qualidade de vida. A prevalência de sintomas depressivos entre os agentes foi de 20,6%. Na análise multivariada, a prevalência de depressão se associou à baixa ou moderada capacidade para o trabalho, ao baixo apoio social, às classes econômicas C, D e E e aos domínios físico e psicológico da qualidade de vida. Sugere-se a criação de espaços para discussão sobre saúde mental relacionada com o trabalho.

Assessment of psychosocial factors at work: A systematic review

Abstract This paper presents a systematic review of Brazilian and international studies on the assessment of psychosocial factors, published between 2009 and 2015, with emphasis on the analysis of assessment instruments. One of the main interests of this review was to identify, in the published articles, the use of principles of Positive Psychology in the analysis of factors of prevention, promotion and health protection of workers. A total of 5,724 articles were found. Articles that were repeated or not written in Portuguese, English or Spanish were excluded. Thus, after analysis, 410 articles remained. Of these, 69 articles that dealt directly with the evaluation of psychosocial factors at work were selected. Most studies address the pathogenesis of psychosocial factors, but there is increasing number of studies that combine the analyses of pathogenic factors with motivational factors in health promotion and in the study of preserved positive aspects. We found that although the findings indicate an incipient movement concerning some protective factors (social support, creativity, engagement, etc.), there are still few studies in the Positive Psychology approach. We suggest that further studies test integrative theoretical models or stressors and motivational factors to deepen the understanding of the protective factors and positive aspects associated with psychosocial factors at work.

[Psychosocial risks, quality of employment, and workplace stress in Chilean wage-earning workers: a gender perspective]

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of work-related stress in Chile and its association with exposure to workplace psychosocial risks and quality of employment, considering gender differences. The cross-sectional study included a representative probabilistic national sample of 3,010 salaried workers (1,486 women and 1,524 men). Eighteen percent reported work-related stress (23.8% of women and 14.8% of men). People exposed to psychosocial risks had a higher probability of experiencing stress, and women were more likely to suffer stress than men. Women and men in precarious work showed increased likelihood of distress, compared to workers with less precarious jobs. However, women in precarious jobs were more likely to suffer stress than men in the same situation. The study concluded that women had more precarious jobs, experienced greater exposure to psychosocial risks, and suffered more stress than men. This is evidence of double discrimination (social and gender-based) in the Chilean labor market.