Magnitude and work-related psychosocial factors of occupational depressive symptoms among health workers in central and southern Ethiopia’s health systems: Workforce Inclusive Mental Health
1
Preventive Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2
Mental Health Epidemiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
3
Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
4
African Population and Health Research Center, Kenya, Kenya
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Depression is among the leading mental health disorders, including among health workers, which may hinder progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to health and decent work. Studies on the magnitude and work-related psychosocial factors on occupational depression in the context of low-income countries, including Ethiopian healthcare workers, are scarce. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the magnitude and assess work-related psychosocial factors of occupational depression.
METHODS:
We used a cross-sectional study design in selected public hospitals in Central and Southern Ethiopia in 2023. A total of 1426 health workers were selected using a multistage sampling technique. We collected data on occupational depression using Occupational Depression Inventory Scale (ODIS) and data on exogenous variables via psychometrically validated scales. Structural Equation modelling was performed to identify work-related psychosocial factors.
RESULTS:
Of the 1426 health workers, the overall prevalence of occupational depressive symptoms was 39.0% among healthcare workers. A higher workplace social support social support [β=-0.165, 95% CI: -0.204, -0.125], and higher job rewards [β=-0.495, 95% CI:-0.538, -0.453] were associated with lower occupational depressive symptoms. Similarly, higher job demand [β=0.129, 95% CI: 0.078, 0.180] and higher work-family conflict [β=0.287, 95% CI: 0.240, 0.335] were significantly associated with experiencing occupational depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS:
A higher prevalence of occupational related depressive symptom and significant association with work-related psychosocial factors suggest the need to design workplace stress interventions. The workplace interventions may include promoting workplace social support, job rewards, work-family balance, promoting workload management, and improving job controlling skills and task force allocation may be required to reduce depressive symptoms among health workers.
Depression is among the leading mental health disorders, including among health workers, which may hinder progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to health and decent work. Studies on the magnitude and work-related psychosocial factors on occupational depression in the context of low-income countries, including Ethiopian healthcare workers, are scarce. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the magnitude and assess work-related psychosocial factors of occupational depression.
METHODS:
We used a cross-sectional study design in selected public hospitals in Central and Southern Ethiopia in 2023. A total of 1426 health workers were selected using a multistage sampling technique. We collected data on occupational depression using Occupational Depression Inventory Scale (ODIS) and data on exogenous variables via psychometrically validated scales. Structural Equation modelling was performed to identify work-related psychosocial factors.
RESULTS:
Of the 1426 health workers, the overall prevalence of occupational depressive symptoms was 39.0% among healthcare workers. A higher workplace social support social support [β=-0.165, 95% CI: -0.204, -0.125], and higher job rewards [β=-0.495, 95% CI:-0.538, -0.453] were associated with lower occupational depressive symptoms. Similarly, higher job demand [β=0.129, 95% CI: 0.078, 0.180] and higher work-family conflict [β=0.287, 95% CI: 0.240, 0.335] were significantly associated with experiencing occupational depressive symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS:
A higher prevalence of occupational related depressive symptom and significant association with work-related psychosocial factors suggest the need to design workplace stress interventions. The workplace interventions may include promoting workplace social support, job rewards, work-family balance, promoting workload management, and improving job controlling skills and task force allocation may be required to reduce depressive symptoms among health workers.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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