Subjective underchallenge at work and its impact on mental health

Purpose To investigate the relation between subjective underchallenge at work and the degree of depressiveness and life satisfaction. Methods A representative sample of the German general population of N  = 1,178 (52.5% men; age: M  = 40.4 years, SD  = 11.3) was included in this study. Measurements...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International archives of occupational and environmental health 2011-08, Vol.84 (6), p.655-664
Main Authors: Lehmann, Anja, Burkert, Silke, Daig, Isolde, Glaesmer, Heide, Brähler, Elmar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Biological and medical sciences
Boredom
Depression
Depression - etiology
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental Health
Female
Germany - epidemiology
Happiness
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Mental Health - statistics & numerical data
Mental health care
Middle Aged
Mood disorders
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine
Occupational psychology
Original Article
Personal Satisfaction
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Rehabilitation
Risk Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Stress, Psychological - etiology
Work environment
Workplace - statistics & numerical data
Young Adult
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Summary:Purpose To investigate the relation between subjective underchallenge at work and the degree of depressiveness and life satisfaction. Methods A representative sample of the German general population of N  = 1,178 (52.5% men; age: M  = 40.4 years, SD  = 11.3) was included in this study. Measurements contain Satisfaction with Life Scalè (SWLS) and the Patient Health Questionnairè (PHQ-D). To assess subjective underchallenge at work, a ten-item scale was developed for the purpose of this study. The association between subjective underchallenge at work, life satisfaction and depressiveness was examined by means of path analyses. Results A significant positive association was found between subjective underchallenge at work and depressiveness, mediated by life satisfaction. This association was not moderated by income but by level of education. Participants with a medium educational level displayed a weaker association than participants with either a high or a low educational level. Conclusion Not only work overload but also feeling underchallenged at work can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being. This is not an issue for blue-collar workers only and deserves more attention in future research.
ISSN:0340-0131
1432-1246
DOI:10.1007/s00420-011-0628-5