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The Demand–Control Model as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms—Interaction and Differential Subscale Effects: Prospective Analyses of 2212 German Employees

Author

Listed:
  • Hermann Burr

    (Unit 3.2 Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), 13017 Berlin, Germany)

  • Grit Müller

    (Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), 10317 Berlin, Germany)

  • Uwe Rose

    (Unit 3.2 Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), 13017 Berlin, Germany)

  • Maren Formazin

    (Unit 3.0 Work and Health, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), 10317 Berlin, Germany)

  • Thomas Clausen

    (National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Anika Schulz

    (Unit 3.2 Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), 13017 Berlin, Germany)

  • Hanne Berthelsen

    (Centre for Work Life and Evaluation Studies (CTA) & the Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, 211 19 Malmö, Sweden)

  • Guy Potter

    (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27701, USA)

  • Angelo d’Errico

    (Department of Epidemiology, Local Health Unit ASL TO 3, Piedmont Region, 10095 Turin, Italy)

  • Anne Pohrt

    (Department of Medical Psychology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, 10317 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Testing assumptions of the widely used demand–control (DC) model in occupational psychosocial epidemiology, we investigated (a) interaction, i.e., whether the combined effect of low job control and high psychological demands on depressive symptoms was stronger than the sum of their single effects (i.e., superadditivity) and (b) whether subscales of psychological demands and job control had similar associations with depressive symptoms. Logistic longitudinal regression analyses of the 5-year cohort of the German Study of Mental Health at Work (S-MGA) 2011/12–2017 of 2212 employees were conducted. The observed combined effect of low job control and high psychological demands on depressive symptoms did not indicate interaction (RERI = −0.26, 95% CI = −0.91; 0.40). When dichotomizing subscales at the median, differential effects of subscales were not found. When dividing subscales into categories based on value ranges, differential effects for job control subscales (namely, decision authority and skill discretion) were found ( p = 0.04). This study does not support all assumptions of the DC model: (1) it corroborates previous studies not finding an interaction of psychological demands and job control; and (2) signs of differential subscale effects were found regarding job control. Too few prospective studies have been carried out regarding differential subscale effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Hermann Burr & Grit Müller & Uwe Rose & Maren Formazin & Thomas Clausen & Anika Schulz & Hanne Berthelsen & Guy Potter & Angelo d’Errico & Anne Pohrt, 2021. "The Demand–Control Model as a Predictor of Depressive Symptoms—Interaction and Differential Subscale Effects: Prospective Analyses of 2212 German Employees," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:16:p:8328-:d:609595
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    Cited by:

    1. Risto Nikunlaakso & Kaisa Reuna & Kirsikka Selander & Tuula Oksanen & Jaana Laitinen, 2022. "Synergistic Interaction between Job Stressors and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.

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