Are occupational factors and mental difficulty associated with occupational injury?

J Occup Environ Med. 2011 Dec;53(12):1452-9. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e318237a14b.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the associations between biomechanical, physical, and psychological demands and occupational injury according to depressive symptoms severity.

Methods: Two thousand eight hundred eighty-two French working people completed a questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, job, chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, and injuries during the previous 2-year period. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: Occupational injury (9.2%) strongly related to biomechanical, physical, and psychological demands among depressive-symptoms-free workers (odds ratios ranging from 1.35 to 3.15). These relationships were stronger among the workers with depressive symptoms without medical treatment (11.9%) and among those with persistent symptoms despite a treatment (1.7%), with odds ratios up to 12. These associations were partially confounded (up to 51%) by unhealthy behaviors, health status, and chronic diseases.

Conclusions: High-occupational demands and depressive symptoms can be early identified and monitored to prevent injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology
  • Chronic Disease
  • Depression / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • France / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Occupational Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Injuries / prevention & control
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology