Work Stress and Depressive Symptoms in Fishermen With a Smoking Habit: A Mediator Role of Nicotine Dependence and Possible Moderator Role of Expressive Suppression and Cognitive Reappraisal

Abstract

This study examined pathways of influence between work stress, depressive symptoms, nicotine dependence, expressive suppression, and cognitive reappraisal in fishermen with smoking habits in Qionghai, Hainan province, China (N = 1068). These fishermen responded to multiple assessments a week before leaving on a deep-sea fishing trip, including a Mental Stressor Investigation Questionnaire (MSIQ), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Russell Reason for Smoking Questionnaire (RRSQ), and an Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses of the collected data in Mplus 7 showed that work stress and nicotine dependence were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. The relationship between work stress and depressive symptoms was found to be partially mediated by nicotine dependence and be moderated by cognitive reappraisal. The evidence suggests it advantageous to examine the need of work stress, nicotine dependence, and cognitive reappraisal when attempting to understand depressive symptoms in fishermen with a smoking habit. These findings suggest that improving nicotine dependence through work stress management and training in cognitive reappraisal could be utilized as effective modalities for improving depressive symptoms.

Keywords: cognitive reappraisal; depressive symptoms; expressive suppression; fishermen; nicotine dependence; smoking habit; work stress.

FIGURE 1

Path analysis describing the associations between work stress, depressive symptoms, and nicotine dependence among fishermen with a smoking habit. ^∗∗∗p < 0.001.

FIGURE 2

Path analysis describing the associations between work stress, depressive symptoms, nicotine dependence, and cognitive reappraisal among fishermen with a smoking habit. The item parceling (dividing by item content) and cognitive reappraisal variable had three packs. Int = Work Stress ^∗ Cognitive Reappraisal. Parameters are standardized. ^∗∗p < 0.01, ^∗∗∗p < 0.001.

FIGURE 3

Graphical representation of cognitive reappraisal moderation of a total direct effect between work stress and depressive symptoms. Predicted slopes for the relationship between work stress and depressive symptoms in relation to cognitive reappraisal (score range, 6–42) for Chinese fishermen with a smoking habit. The middle red line represents the total direct effect between work stress and depressive symptoms; such that the steepness of the slope reflects the strength of the moderating influence (a slope of 0 would indicate no moderating effect). Note that the higher the emotion regulation score for cognitive reappraisal (x axis value), the weaker the total direct effect is (y axis value). The area between the upper and lower (blue) lines represents the CI of the total direct effect.