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An, Chung, Kim, Kwak, Son, Koo, Ju, and Kwon: The effect of organisational system on self-rated depression in a panel of male municipal firefighters
Research Article

Ann Occup Environ Med 2015; 27(1): 1.

Published online: 4 February 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-014-0044-x

The effect of organisational system on self-rated depression in a panel of male municipal firefighters

Se-Jin An1, Yun Kyung Chung1, *, Bong Hyun Kim1, Kyeong Min Kwak1, Jun-Seok Son2, Jung-wan Koo3, Young-Su Ju1, Young-Jun Kwon1

1Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea

2Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Changwon Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan College of Medicine, Changwon City, Republic of Korea

3Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Seoul St. Mary hospital, Catholic university of Medicine, Seoul City, Republic of Korea

*Correspondence: yk.chungmd@gmail.com, Department of occupational and environmental medicine, Hallym university sacred heart hospital, Anyang City, Republic of Korea Full list of author information is available at the end of the article

Received 30 May 2014       Revised 14 October 2014       Accepted 14 January 2015

Copyright © 2015 Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Objectives

The present study evaluated the effects of job stress, including organisational system to self-rated depression through a panel study of male municipal firefighters in the Republic of Korea.

Methods

A panel of 186 municipal firefighters reported self-rated depressive symptoms according to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The effects of job stress were evaluated using the Korea Occupational Stress Scale, taken one year earlier and classified by the median value. Panel members were classified into Depression or Control groups according to BDI scores, with a cut-off level of ‘over mild depression' in a follow-up survey.

Results

The Depression group included 17 (9.1%) workers. Firefighters who scored high on occupational system had an 8.3 times greater risk of being assigned to the Depression group than those who had not (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=8.03, 95% confidence interval (CI)=[1.73–37.22]). In contrast, job stress from a ‘difficult physical environment' revealed negative risks related to being classified in the Depression group (AOR=0.20, 95% CI=[0.04–0.92]).

Conclusions

Although the healthy worker effect may be involved, job stress based on perceptions of organisational system was a strong risk factor for depression. A comprehensive approach should be considered that encompasses social issues when assessing or mental health in high-risk groups, as well as the practical issue of physiochemical hazards.

Keywords: Depression, Organisational system, Municipality, Firefighter, Occupational stress

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Figures and Tables

Figure 1
The flowchart of study design and assignment of subjects.
aoem-27-1f1.tif
Table 1
General characteristics of subjects
General characteristics (N= 186) Total (N=17) Depression (N=169) Control P-value*
Age             0.287
29 3 (1.7)† 0 0 4 2.4  
30–39 78 41.9 4 23.5 74 43.8  
40–49 79 42.5 11 64.7 68 40.2  
50- 25 13.4 2 11.8 23 13.6  
Subtotal 186 100 17 100 169 100  
Education             0.740
–Middle school 4 2.2 0 0 4 2.5  
High school 99 55 9 52.9 90 55.2  
2-year university 36 20 5 29.4 31 19  
4 – years college- 41 22.8 3 17.6 38 23.3  
Subtotal 180 100 17 100 163 100  
Salary in a month             0.418
<$2000 9 5 0 0 9 5.5  
$2000–2999 73 40.8 7 43.8 66 40.5  
$3000–3999 69 38.5 5 31.3 64 39.3  
$4000- 28 15.6 4 25 24 14.7  
Subtotal 179 100 16 100 163 100  
Marriage             0.815
Married 162 87.6 15 88.2 147 87.5  
Single 17 9.2 2 11.8 15 8.9  
Divorced or seperated 6 3.2 0 0 6 3.6  
Subtotal 185 100 17 100 168 100  
Working class             0.268
Firefighter 26 (14.1)† 2 11.8 24 14.3  
Vice director 85 45.9 5 29.4 80 47.6  
Director 59 31.9 8 47.1 51 30.4  
Chief director 6 3.2 0 0 6 3.6  
Above president 9 4.9 2 11.8 7 4.2  
Subtotal 185 100 17 100 168 100  
Job content             0.721
Administrative 49 26.8 5 29.4 44 26.5  
Firefighting 81 44.3 6 35.3 75 45.2  
Rescue (accident) 31 16.9 3 17.6 28 16.9  
Emergency (health) 22 12 3 17.6 19 11.4  
Subtotal 183 100 17 100 166 100  
Shiftwork             0.545
None 38 20.7 2 13.3 36 21.3  
3 shift 6 3.3 1 6.7 5 3  
2 shift 44 23.9 5 33.3 39 23.1  
1 shift for 24 hrs 96 52.2 7 46.7 89 52.7  
Subtotal 184 100 15 100 169 100  

* Chi-square test (P < 0.05).

† N(%).

Table 2
The logistic regression of korean occupational job stress scales on self-rated depression
Sub-items in job stress† Crude Odd ratio 95% CI Adjusted Odd ratio* 95% CI
Total score              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 2.44 0.80 −7.48 2.50 0.80 −7.78
Physical environment              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 0.19 0.04 −0.86 0.20 0.04 −0.92
Job demand              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 2.19 0.77 −6.21 2.24 0.78 −6.41
Job control              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 0.97 0.33 −2.80 0.92 0.32 −2.70
Lack of social s support            
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 0.86 0.30 −2.44 0.80 0.28 −2.32
Job instability              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 1.14 0.23 −5.77 1.14 0.23 −5.77
Organisational system            
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 8.34 1.82 −38.21 8.03 1.73 −37.22
Lack of reward              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 1.58 0.56 −4.46 1.58 0.55 −4.49
Organizational climate              
  Low group 1.00     1.00    
  High group 0.75 0.27 −2.14 0.65 0.22 −1.91

* Odd ratio was a adjusted by age, job class, and shiftwork.

† High group was divided by median scoore of each sub-items of job stress.

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