Long work hours, weekend working and depressive symptoms in men and women: findings from a UK population-based study

BackgroundGlobalised and 24/7 business operations have fuelled demands for people to work long hours and weekends. Research on the mental health effects of these intensive temporal work patterns is sparse, contradictory or has not considered gender differences. Our objective was to examine the relationship between these work patterns and depressive symptoms in a large nationally representative sample of working men and women in the UK.MethodThe current study analysed data from Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study, of 11 215 men and 12 188 women in employment or self-employment at the time of the study. Ordinary least squares regression models, adjusted for potential confounders and psychosocial work factors, were used to estimate depressive symptoms across categories of work hours and weekend work patterns.ResultsRelative to a standard 35–40 hours/week, working 55 hours/week or more related to more depressive symptoms among women (ß=0.75, 95% CI 0.12 to 1.39), but not for men (ß=0.24, 95% CI −0.10 to 0.58). Compared with not working weekends, working most or all weekends related to more depressive symptoms for both men (ß=0.34, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.61) and women (ß=0.50, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.79); however, working some weekends only related to more depressive symptoms for men (ß=0.33, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.55), not women (ß=0.17, 95% CI −0.09 to 0.42).ConclusionIncreased depressive symptoms were independently linked to working extra-long hours for women, whereas increased depressive symptoms were associated with working weekends for both genders, suggesting these work patterns may contribute to worse mental health.

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Wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK: a secondary data analysis

10.31235/osf.io/pv4qs ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jen Murphy ◽

Mark Elliot

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

National Level ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Well Being ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

The Uk ◽

Survey Responses ◽

The Impact

Introduction: In March 2020 in response to the COVID pandemic the UK government declared a national lockdown where citizens were required to stay at home. The impact of this lockdown on levels of well-being has been a source of concern for citizens and mental health professionals.Objectives: We investigated the trajectory of well-being over the course of the ?first wave and sought to determine whether the change in well-being is distributed equally across the population. Speci?fically we investigated pre-existing medical conditions, social isolation, ?financial stress and deprivation as a predictor for well-being and whether there were community level characteristics which protect against poorer well-being.Methods: Using online survey responses from the COVID19 modules of Understanding society, we linked 8,379 English cases across ?five waves of data collection to location based deprivation statistics. We used ordinary least squares regression to estimate the association between deprivation, pre-existing conditions and socio-demographic factors and the change in well-being scores over time, as measured by the GHQ-12 questionnaire.Results: A decline in well-being was observed at the beginning of the fi?rst lock down period at the beginning of March 2020. This was matched with a corresponding recovery between April and July as restrictions were gradually lifted. There was no association between the decline and deprivation, nor between deprivation and recovery. The strongest predictor of well-being during the lockdown, was the baseline score, with the counterintuitive finding that for those will pre-existing poor well-being, the impact of pandemic restrictions on mental health were minimal, but for those who had previously felt well, the restrictions and the impact of the pandemic on well-being were much greater.Conclusion: These data show no evidence of a social gradient in well-being related to the pandemic. In fact, wellbeing was shown to be highly elastic in this period indicating a national level of resilience which cut across the usually observed health inequalities.

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Depressive Symptoms and the Buffering Effect of Resilience on Widowhood by Gender

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gny115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 59 (6) ◽

pp. 1122-1130 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Brittany M King ◽

Dawn C Carr ◽

Miles G Taylor

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Stressful Life Event ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Future Research ◽

Psychological Resilience ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Men And Women ◽

Negatively Associated ◽

Spousal Loss ◽

Lifestyle Questionnaire

Abstract Background and Objectives Spousal loss is a stressful life event that often results in significant depressive symptoms, with men often experiencing more significant depressive symptoms than women. Recent research suggests that psychological resilience may play a role in shaping how well people recover from the loss of a spouse. This study examined the moderating effect of resilience on widowhood in relation to changes in depressive symptoms for men and women. Research Design and Methods This study used data from the Health and Retirement Study to examine a change in depressive symptoms for men and women who experience spousal loss compared to those who remain continuously married (N = 5,626). We used the Simplified Resilience Score, which is based on measures drawn from the psychosocial and lifestyle questionnaire. Ordinary least squares regression was used to assess depression following reported spousal loss for widows relative to their continuously married counterparts. Results Results show resilience moderated depressive symptoms following spousal loss, but these effects varied by gender. Resilience was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms for married but not for widowed women. However, for widowed men, resilience was significantly and negatively associated with depressive symptoms, and a high resilience score buffered the effect of widowhood. Discussion and Implications Our study suggests that having high levels of resilience prior to spousal loss may help offset persistent depressive symptoms, especially for men. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

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Mental health, coping, and social support among people living with HIV in the Americas: A comparative study between Argentina and the USA during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

10.21203/rs.3.rs-109131/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Deborah L. Jones ◽

Jamile Ballivian ◽

Violeta J. Rodriguez ◽

Claudia Uribe ◽

Diego Cecchini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Support ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Coping With Stress ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic pose significant risk to mental health and may disproportionately affect people living with HIV (PLWH). This study examined the interaction of social support and resilient coping in predicting depressive symptoms among PLWH.Methods: PLWH residing in Buenos Aires, Argentina and in Miami, Florida (US) were asked to complete an anonymous survey on the impact of COVID-19. Statistical analysis included ordinary least squares regression.Results: A total of 1,554 participants were included. Mean age was 47.30 years; 63.7 % were men. A test of three-way interaction of social support resilient coping study site indicated differences by site (b = -0.63.862, p = .043010, 95% CI [-1.24, -0.02.205, 1.52]). In Argentina, at higher social support and resilient coping, depressive symptoms were lowest. At lower social support and resilient coping, depressive symptoms were highest.Discussion: The impact of COVID-19 on mental health illustrates the need to develop innovative strategies to support resilience and to enhance coping with stress and adversity among PLWH.

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Unintended Birth and Children’s Long-term Mental Health

Journal of Health and Social Behavior ◽

10.1177/0022146517717037 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 58 (3) ◽

pp. 357-370 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jessica Houston Su

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Fixed Effects ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Pregnancy Intentions ◽

Unintended Birth ◽

Unintended Pregnancies

Research has examined the proximate effects of unintended birth on infants and young children, but we know relatively little about the longer-term effects. Given that unintended birth is associated with several childhood risk factors, it might set the stage for poor mental health in adulthood. Drawing on rich intergenerational survey data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 ( N = 3,742), this study used a variety of statistical techniques to examine whether maternal pregnancy intentions are associated with children’s depressive symptoms during early adulthood. Results from ordinary least squares regression suggest that children resulting from unintended pregnancies experienced more depressive symptoms in their 20s than children resulting from intended pregnancies, controlling for a host of characteristics. Results from propensity-weighted and sibling fixed-effects models suggest that there is little to no causal relationship, however. Much of the initial association between maternal fertility intentions and children’s depressive symptoms is attributed to the mother’s sociodemographic characteristics.

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The Influence of Masculine Norms and Mental Health on Health Literacy Among Men: Evidence From the Ten to Men Study

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988319873532 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 155798831987353 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Allison Milner ◽

Marissa Shields ◽

Tania King

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

P Value ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Conformity To Masculine Norms ◽

Masculine Norms

Background: Adherence to masculine norms, such as self-reliance, has been thought to predict lower health literacy. Additionally, males with poor mental health may have low health literacy. Using two waves of the Ten to Men cohort, the current study examined whether masculinity and depressive symptomology explained three aspects of health literacy among men. Methods: Three subscales of the Health Literacy Questionnaire were used as the outcomes: Ability to find good health information; Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers, and Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers. Exposures were masculine norms, measured by the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI-22), and depressive symptoms, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). We controlled for confounders of the relationship between exposure and outcome. Ordinary least squares regression was used to assess the CMNI and depressive symptoms (measured in Wave 1) on health literacy (measured in Wave 2). Results: Across all three health literacy scales, increased global conformity to masculine norms was associated with a decrease in health literacy. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were likewise associated with a decrease in health literacy on all three scales, with the effects particularly strong for “Ability to engage with healthcare providers” (coef. −1.54, 95% CI [−1.84, −1.24], p value < .001). Conclusions: The results of this article highlight that both conformity to masculine norms and depressive symptoms may be predictors of health literacy among men. The results of this study suggest the need for health literacy media campaigns that address the complexities of gendered help-seeking behaviors. Trial registration: Not applicable.

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Caregiving Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the National Poll on Healthy Aging

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.672 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 178-178

Author(s):

Alicia Carmichael ◽

Natalie Leonard ◽

Jeannette Jackson ◽

Erica Solway ◽

Matthias Kirch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Medical Care ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Well Being ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Care Needs ◽

National Poll ◽

Caregiver Mental Health ◽

Nationally Representative

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for caregivers. This study examines the prevalence of pandemic care challenges (e.g., decreasing care to reduce virus spread, difficulty accessing medical care) and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being in a nationally representative sample of 311 caregivers who participated in the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging. We consider seven care challenges and supports as key predictors of caregiver mental health (care-related stress, self-reported mental health, three depressive symptoms) and interpersonal well-being (lack of companionship, isolation) in bivariate tests and ordinary least squares regressions. Each care challenge/support was endorsed by between 13-23% of caregivers. Difficulty getting needed medical care was the most predictive challenge associated with increased caregiver stress, depressive symptoms, and worsened interpersonal well-being. All care challenges predicted an increase in caregiver stress. Effective caregiver tools and supports must consider changing policies and care needs, especially during a pandemic.

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Gender differences in unpaid care work and psychological distress in the UK Covid-19 lockdown

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0247959 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0247959

Author(s):

Baowen Xue ◽

Anne McMunn

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Work Hours ◽

Care Work ◽

Gender Inequalities ◽

Work Patterns ◽

Unpaid Care ◽

Lone Mothers ◽

The Uk

Objective To describe how men and women divided childcare and housework demands during the height of the first Covid-19 lockdown in the UK, and whether these divisions were associated with worsening mental health during the pandemic. Background School closures and homeworking during the Covid-19 crisis have resulted in an immediate increase in unpaid care work, which draws new attention to gender inequality in divisions of unpaid care work. Methods Data come from the wave 9 (2017–19) of Understanding Society and the following April (n = 15,426) and May (n = 14,150) waves of Understanding Society Covid-19 study. Psychological distress was measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) at both before and during the lockdown, and unpaid care work was measured during the lockdown. Linear regression models were used. Results Women spent much more time on unpaid care work than men during lockdown, and it was more likely to be the mother than the father who reduced working hours or changed employment schedules due to increased time on childcare. Women who spent long hours on housework and childcare were more likely to report increased levels of psychological distress. Working parents who adapted their work patterns increased more psychological distress than those who did not. This association was much stronger if he or she was the only member in the household who adapted their work patterns, or if she was a lone mother. Fathers increased more psychological distress if they reduced work hours but she did not, compared to neither reducing work hours. Conclusion There are continued gender inequalities in divisions of unpaid care work. Juggling home working with homeschooling and childcare as well as extra housework is likely to lead to poor mental health for people with families, particularly for lone mothers.

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Heart rate variability and depressive symptoms: a cross-lagged analysis over a 10-year period in the Whitehall II study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s003329171600060x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (10) ◽

pp. 2121-2131 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

V. K. Jandackova ◽

A. Britton ◽

M. Malik ◽

A. Steptoe

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

General Health Questionnaire ◽

Antidepressant Medication ◽

Population Based ◽

Baseline Heart Rate ◽

Lower Baseline ◽

The Uk

BackgroundPeople with depression tend to have lower heart rate variability (HRV), but the temporal sequence is poorly understood. In a sample of the general population, we prospectively examined whether HRV measures predict subsequent depressive symptoms or whether depressive symptoms predict subsequent levels of HRV.MethodData from the fifth (1997–1999) and ninth (2007–2009) phases of the UK Whitehall II longitudinal population-based cohort study were analysed with an average follow-up of 10.5 years. The sample size for the prospective analysis depended on the analysis and ranged from 2334 (644 women) to 2276 (602 women). HRV measures during 5 min of supine rest were obtained. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by four cognitive symptoms of depression from the General Health Questionnaire.ResultsAt follow-up assessment, depressive symptoms were inversely associated with HRV measures independently of antidepressant medication use in men but not in women. Prospectively, lower baseline heart rate and higher HRV measures were associated with a lower likelihood of incident depressive symptoms at follow-up in men without depressive symptoms at baseline. Similar but statistically insignificant associations were found in women. Adjustments for known confounders including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, cardiometabolic conditions or medication did not change the predictive effect of HRV on incident depressive symptoms at follow-up. Depressive symptoms at baseline were not associated with heart rate or HRV at follow-up in either sex.ConclusionsThese findings are consistent with an aetiological role of the autonomic nervous system in depression onset.

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The Association Between Post-Traumatic Stress and Depressive Symptoms Among Older Puerto Ricans in Boston: How Does Loneliness Matter?

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/08982643211064123 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 089826432110641

Author(s):

Kaipeng Wang ◽

Anao Zhang ◽

Adolfo G. Cuevas ◽

Carson M. De Fries ◽

Ladson Hinton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Puerto Ricans ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Comorbid Depression ◽

Post Traumatic

Objectives To examine the association between post-traumatic stress and depression and whether such an association differs by level of loneliness among older Puerto Ricans. Methods Data were collected from 304 Puerto Ricans aged 60 and above living in the Greater Boston area who responded to questionnaires. We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the association between post-traumatic stress, loneliness, and depressive symptoms. Results Post-traumatic stress was significantly associated with higher levels of depression. The association between post-traumatic stress and depression was stronger for those experiencing a higher degree of loneliness. Discussion In working with older Puerto Ricans experiencing post-traumatic stress, it is important for mental health professionals to incorporate the assessment of loneliness and to prevent and reduce comorbid depression by addressing loneliness through improving social skills, enhancing social support, and reducing maladaptive social cognition.

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Living Arrangements and Sleep-Related Outcomes Among Older Adults in China

The International Journal of Aging and Human Development ◽

10.1177/0091415019852777 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 91 (2) ◽

pp. 111-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yen-Han Lee ◽

Yen-Chang Chang ◽

Timothy Chiang ◽

Ching-Ti Liu ◽

Mack Shelley

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Regression Models ◽

Family Members ◽

Ordinary Least Squares ◽

Least Squares Regression ◽

Quality Of Sleep ◽

Nationally Representative

It has been discussed previously that older adults’ living arrangements are associated with mortality. This study investigated the relationships between older adults’ living arrangements and sleep-related outcomes in China. The nationally representative sample included 4,731 participants who participated on two different occasions, with a total of 9,462 observations (2012 and 2014 waves). Panel logistic regression and panel ordinary least squares regression models were estimated with outcomes of sleep quality and average hours of sleep daily, respectively. Approximately 62% of individuals reported good quality of sleep. We observed that older adults who lived with family members had 17% greater odds of reporting good quality of sleep (adjusted odds ratio = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [1.03, 1.34], p < .05) and reported longer sleep duration daily (β = .334, standard error = .069, p < .01), compared with those who lived alone. Social support is needed to strengthen the residential relationship, especially with family members.

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