by A recently published study in The Lancet explores the relationship between working conditions and the prevalence of mental health disorders, as well as efforts to promote and safeguard mental health in the workplace. The growing body of evidence suggests that adverse working conditions are closely tied to mental health disorders, which not only affect the individuals themselves but also have broader implications for their coworkers, employers, families, and society as a whole.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as an individual’s state of well-being that allows them to realize their abilities, work productively, and cope with life’s stressors while contributing to their community. This study emphasizes the three crucial aspects of mental health: mental well-being, mental health problems, and mental disorders, with each having different implications in terms of protection and compensation.
Mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse are prevalent in the workplace, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have exacerbated these issues.
The study first defined key terms related to work and mental health, highlighting the importance of research in both areas. Researchers then conducted a review and synthesis of existing knowledge regarding the causal role of the work environment in the development of mental health disorders. They also explored the options and strategies available to promote and protect mental health in the workplace.
The study included systematic reviews with meta-analyses of studies conducted between 2011 and 2017, involving individuals of working age from around the world who were exposed to specific chemical, physical, psychosocial, and ergonomic working conditions.
While the impact of the psychosocial work environment on workers’ mental health has been the subject of attention since the 1960s and 1970s, it was only at the beginning of the 21st century that this association was extensively explored on an epidemiological scale. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of prospective studies examining the incidence of depressive disorders linked to working conditions, resulting in a wealth of systematic reviews with meta-analyses.
Given the abundance of existing systematic reviews, the researchers conducted a meta-review or umbrella review, which involved reviewing other systematic reviews to synthesize the findings and gain a comprehensive understanding of the current evidence regarding the impact of the work environment on mental health.
The study found that three primary models of psychosocial work stress exposure were associated with absence from work due to mental health issues and the onset of depressive disorders. These models focused on job strain, which involves high demand but low control; the imbalance of effort and reward; and organizational justice, which pertains to an employee’s perception of fairness in the workplace.
Furthermore, workplace bullying was identified as the strongest contributing factor to adverse mental health outcomes, with a 2.58-fold increase in the risk of depressive disorders. Other components of psychosocial work stress that were associated with negative mental health outcomes included job insecurity, increased job and emotional demands, and low social support.
While there is strong evidence from prospective cohort studies linking adverse factors in the work environment to an increased risk of depressive disorders, research on the association between working conditions and other mental health disorders is lacking.
To gain a better understanding of the correlation between adverse working conditions and the incidence of mental health disorders, the researchers emphasize the need for an improved theoretical framework to comprehend the link between workplace stress and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, the methods used to assess exposures such as working conditions should be reevaluated, as the current reliance on self-reports introduces potential bias.
The study also highlights the existing disparity in efforts to promote and protect mental health in the workplace, with a disproportionate focus on individual illnesses rather than a comprehensive approach to enhancing mental health and improving working conditions. There is also a discrepancy between high and low socioeconomic groups in terms of attention to workers’ mental health.
In light of these findings, the researchers emphasize the importance of translating the knowledge gained about mental health in the workplace into practical policies and guidelines that can be implemented at the national level based on the specific needs of different populations.
In conclusion, extensive research has demonstrated a significant association between adverse work environments and the incidence of depressive disorders. However, further developments in theoretical frameworks and assessment methods are needed to understand the link between working conditions and other mental health problems. It is imperative to translate the knowledge gained about the impact of a healthy workplace environment on mental health into tangible policies and interventions.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
