PT Journal AU Jang, S Jang, S Bae, H Shin, J Park, E TI Precarious employment and new-onset severe depressive symptoms: a population-based prospective study in South Korea SO Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health PD 7VL PY 2015 BP 329 EP 337 IS 4 DI 10.5271/sjweh.3498 WP https://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=3498 DE depression; depressive symptom; gender difference; mental health; new-onset depressive symptom; non-standard work; precarious employment; prospective study; South Korea; temporary work SN 0355-3140 AB '

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OBJECTIVES ': 'Considering the effect of sex and head of household responsibilities, this study was designed to evaluate whether precarious employment is associated with the development of new-onset severe depressive symptoms.

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METHODS ': 'We followed 2214 male and 1276 female waged workers, ≤59 years of age and without moderate depressive symptom, from the Korean Welfare Panel Study 2007–2013. Their employment status was classified as full-time permanent, precarious, self-employed, or unemployed after baseline. Except for occupation and company size, all variables were treated as time-dependent. Severe depressive symptoms were measured using the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-11). A generalized estimating equation was used to evaluate the effect of employment status on the development of new-onset severe depressive symptoms.

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RESULTS ': 'After adjusting for initial baseline CES-D-11 score, chronic disease, and other socioeconomic covariates, precarious employment was associated with the development of new-onset severe depressive symptoms among male heads of household [odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02–2.25] and female heads of household (OR 4.19, 95% CI 1.70–10.32). In addition, the transition from full-time permanent employment to another employment status was associated with the development of new-onset severe depressive symptoms among both sexes, with an especially strong association among females.

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CONCLUSION ': 'The present study suggests that, depending on head of household status and sex, precarious employment is associated with the development of new-onset severe depressive symptoms.

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