Abstract
Background
This study aims to investigate the correlation among occupational stress, coping style and depressive symptoms in manufacturing workers of China.
Methods
A total of 2,083 workers from two manufacturing enterprises in Beijing City and four manufacturing enterprises in Guangdong Province are selected as study subjects using judgment sampling method. The occupational stress, coping style, and depression symptoms are accessed using the Core Occupational Stress Measurement Scale, Trait Coping Style Questionnaire and Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale, and we analyze the correlation among occupational stress, coping style and depressive symptoms.
Results
A total of 2,311 questionnaires are distributed, and 2,083 valid questionnaires are collected, with a valid questionnaire recovery rate of 90.1%. The average scores of occupational stress, positive coping style, negative coping style and depressive symptoms among the study subjects are 45.2, 31.7, 23.7 and 6.3, respectively. The detection rates of occupational stress and depressive symptoms are 29.5% (615/2,083) and 15.7% (327/2,083). Depressive symptoms are positively correlated with occupational stress and negative coping style (both P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with positive coping style (P < 0.001). Occupational stress is positively correlated with negative coping style (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with positive coping style (P < 0.001). The four dimensions of occupational stress explained 15.7% of variation in depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). The inclusion of the two dimensions of coping style on the above basis can explain 19.5% of the variation in depressive symptoms (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the four dimensions of occupational stress has a statistically significant effect on depressive symptoms (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Occupational stress can directly affect the occurrence of depressive symptoms in manufacturing workers of China. Coping style moderates the effect of occupational stress on depressive symptoms. Positive coping style can help alleviate the adverse effects of occupational stress and reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.