In order to examine the association between socio-environmental factors and the mental health of workers in Tohoku and Hokkaido areas, the Center for epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used for measuring depressive state, and family structure, lifestyle, health status and working environment including working hours etc. were investigated on 6310 workers (3827 males and 2483 females). The association between these two factors were then analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. In both genders and age groups, socioenvironmental factors such as “satisfaction level of job”, “work discretion”, “morale at work”, “satisfaction level of boss-subordinate relationship”, “self-assessment”, “health status”, “lifestyle” and “satisfaction levels of friends/family relationships” were significantly associated with CED-scores. However, longer or greater “working hours”, “overtime hours worked” or “work discretion” were found not to elevate the level of depression. Thus, the level of depression for Japanese workers was largely affected by the stress they experience at work, in the society and at home, and their individual characteristics. However, the workload including working hours was suggested to have a marginal effect on the level of depression.
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