Social factors at work and the health of employees
: Sinokki, Marjo
: Kela, Research Department
: 2011
: Studies in social security and health
: 115
: 1
: 106
: 978-951-669-851-2
: 978-951-669-852-9
: 1238-5050
: http://hdl.handle.net/10138/25995
Depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorders, and sleeping difficulties are common problems among the working population. These disorders and symptoms also incur remarkable expense to society. The association between social support and team climate at work and various outcomes were studied in a sample of working population (n = 3347–3430) derived from the Health 2000 Study of the National Institute for Health and Welfare. Social support at work was measured using the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), and support in private life with the Social Support Questionnaire. Team climate was measured using a selfassessment scale, which is included in the Healthy Organization Questionnaire. The diagnoses of common mental disorders were based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The prescriptions of antidepressants and hypnotics and sedatives were extracted from the prescription register of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, and the disability pensions were extracted from the official records of the Finnish Centre of Pensions and the Social Insurance Institution. There was no difference between gender and the perceived team climate. Instead, women perceived more social support, both at work and in private life. Low social support, both at work and in private life, was associated with depressive and anxiety disorders and many sleep related problems. Poor team climate was associated with both depressive and anxiety disorders. Low social support from supervisors and from co-workers was associated with subsequent antidepressant use. Poor team climate also predicted antidepressant use during the follow-up. Low social support from the supervisor seemed to increase the risk for disability pension. It is important to pay attention to the well-being of employees at work since low social support and poor team climate are associated with mental health problems and future work disability.