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Depressive symptoms and related factors among workers in care institutions for older persons in Japan: a cross-sectional study

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Key summary points

AbstractSection Aim

The survey was conducted to examine stressful situations and assess psychological distress among workers in care institutions for older persons in Japan.

AbstractSection Findings

Factors associated with a high risk of depression included young age, short sleep duration on weeknights, and working for more than 45 h per week.

AbstractSection Message

Risk factors of depression among care workers were suggested to be young age, short sleep duration on weeknights, and long working hours.

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of depressive symptoms and related factors among workers in care institutions for older persons in Japan. In addition, we sought to identify the relationships between high (i.e., ≥ 16) Center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CES-D) scores, sociodemographic characteristics, and occupational variables.

Methods

Care institutions for older persons in Akita prefecture were randomly selected to participate in the survey. Participants were recruited by their employers and were invited to complete the survey. In total, 197 care institutions for older persons in Akita prefecture agreed to participate in the study. Of the 2727 workers who were invited to participate, 2404 returned complete questionnaires. The CES-D was used to determine the prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms.

Results

Data for 2088 employees showed that 44.3% had high CES-D scores. Sociodemographic characteristics and occupational factors associated with a high risk of depression included young age, short sleep duration on weeknights, and working for more than 45 h per week.

Conclusions

To prevent depression, care workers should be aware of the effects of long working hours and lack of sleep. In addition, special attention should be paid to young workers as a high-risk group.

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Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the participants for their contribution to the study as well as Dr. Seiji Saito, Dr. Tetsuo Shimizu, Dr. Katsuyuki Murata, Dr. Yasutsugu Kudo, Mr. Tomokazu Asanuma, Mr. Masayuki Seki, and all the occupational physicians and their assistants from the Akita Occupational Health Promotion Centers for their help during the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akita University Health Center, 1-1, Tegata-Gakuen-machi, Akita, 010-8502, Japan

    Masahito Fushimi

  2. Akita Occupational Health Promotion Center, Akita, 010-0874, Japan

    Masahito Fushimi

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  1. Masahito Fushimi
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Correspondence to Masahito Fushimi.

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Conflict of interest

The author has no conflicts of interest to declare regarding the publication of this paper.

Ethical approval

The research ethics board at the Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization, which has established occupational health promotion centers in each administrative division, approved the study protocol. 

Informed consent

All individual participants were informed that participation in the paper-based survey was voluntary and confidential.

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Fushimi, M. Depressive symptoms and related factors among workers in care institutions for older persons in Japan: a cross-sectional study. Eur Geriatr Med 10, 957–964 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-019-00241-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-019-00241-w

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