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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Jul 5;10(7):e034849.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034849.

Work-related psychosocial risk factors for stress-related mental disorders: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Henk F van der Molen #  1 , Karen Nieuwenhuijsen  2 , Monique H W Frings-Dresen  2 , Gerda de Groene #  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Work-related psychosocial risk factors for stress-related mental disorders: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Henk F van der Molen et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to conduct an update of a previously published review and meta-analysis on the association between work-related psychosocial risk factors and stress-related mental disorders (SRD).

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources: Medline, Embase and PsycINFO were searched for articles published between 2008 and 12 August 2019 and references of a systematic review performed for the period before 2008 were included. Primary prospective studies were included when outcome data were described in terms of SRD assessment or a dichotomous outcome, based on a validated questionnaire, and at least two levels of work-related exposure were reported (exposed vs less or non-exposed). We used GRADE to assess the evidence for the associations between risk factors and the onset of SRD.

Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. In total, a population of 73 874 workers from Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden were included in the meta-analysis of 14 prospective cohort studies. This meta-analysis revealed moderate evidence for associations between SRD and effort reward imbalance (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.15), high job demands (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.72), organisational justice (ORs=1.6 to 1.7, CIs 1.44 to 1.86), social support (ORs=1.3 to 1.4, CIs 1.16 to 1.69), high emotional demands (OR=1.6, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.84) and decision authority (OR=1.3, CI 1.20 to 1.49). No significant or inconsistent associations were found for job insecurity, decision latitude, skill discretion and bullying.

Conclusion: Moderate evidence was found that work-related psychosocial risk factors are associated with a higher risk of SRD. Effort-reward imbalance, low organisational justice and high job demands exhibited the largest increased risk of SRD, varying from 60% to 90%.

Keywords: epidemiology; occupational & industrial medicine; preventive medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prisma flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of studies regarding effort-reward imbalance and SRD. SRD, stress-related mental disorders.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of studies regarding procedural injustice and SRD. SRD, stress-related mental disorders.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of studies regarding job demands and SRD. SRD, stress-related mental disorders.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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