TY - JOUR T1 - Meta-analysis of the effects of health promotion intervention in the workplace on depression and anxiety symptoms JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PY - 2009/1VL - 35 IS - 1 SP - 7 EP - 18 AU - Martin, Angela AU - Sanderson, Kristy AU - Cocker, Fiona M3 - doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1295 UR - https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=1295 KW - anxiety KW - anxiety symptom KW - depression KW - depression risk KW - depression symptom KW - employee KW - health promotion KW - intervention KW - mental health KW - meta-analysis KW - review KW - systematic review KW - workplace N2 - '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'The aim of the study was to investigate whether different types of health promotion intervention in the workplace reduce depression and anxiety symptoms.

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METHODS ': 'A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was undertaken on workplace health promotion published during the period 1997–2007. Studies were considered eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the impact of an intervention using a valid indicator or specific measure of depression or anxiety symptoms. The standardized mean difference was calculated for each of the following three types of outcome measures: depression, anxiety, and composite mental health.

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RESULTS ': 'Altogether 22 studies were found that met the inclusion criteria, with a total sample size of 3409 employees postintervention, and 17 of these studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 20 intervention–control comparisons. The pooled results indicated small, but positive overall effects of the interventions with respect to symptoms of depression [SMD 0.28, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.12–0.44] and anxiety (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.06–0.51), but no effect on composite mental health measures (SMD 0.05, 95% CI -0.03–0.13). The interventions that included a direct focus on mental health had a comparable effect on depression and anxiety symptoms, as did the interventions with an indirect focus on risk factors.

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CONCLUSIONS ': 'When the aim is to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in employee populations, a broad range of health promotion interventions appear to be effective, although the effect is small.

SN - 0355-3140 ER -