The difference between women and men, regarding the numbers of identified occupational and non-occupational risk indicators, may partly be explained by the gender-segregated labour market, and partly by other explanations. In our study, we have not succeeded in collecting the relevant information about occupational conditions that is important for men's mental health.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Psychiatric epidemiology has revealed a number of associations between gender, socioeconomic status, and psychiatric disorders. Aims: To examine psychosocial conditions on and off the job in relation to psychological ill health. Methods: Longitudinal design with 24 year follow up of employed persons (190 women, 177 men). Interview and questionnaire data on work and leisure conditions were collected in 1969 and 1993. Risk analyses were performed in relation to three outcomes in 1993: depression within the preceding 12 months, impaired psychological wellbeing, and heavy alcohol use. Results: Thirteen per cent of the women and 11% of the men showed symptoms of depression, 21% and 22% had impaired psychological wellbeing, and 7% and 15% respectively were heavy alcohol users. Dissatisfaction with the quality (women) or quantity (men) of social contacts 24 years earlier was a significant risk factor for depression. Dissatisfaction with the quality of social contacts was also associated with impaired psychological wellbeing (among women), and dissatisfaction with leisure time activities was associated with heavy alcohol use (among men). Frequent overtime work 24 years earlier was associated with heavy alcohol use among women. Cross sectional analyses also showed associations between psychological ill health and some work related factors (mentally demanding work and lack of job pride). Conclusions: Perceived inadequacies in social contacts, and practical obstacles to social relationships are viewed as risk factors for depression. In this longitudinal study, work related factors, including mental demands and time pressure, do not appear sufficiently associated with psychological ill health. P sychiatric epidemiology has revealed a number of associations between gender, socioeconomic status, and various types of psychiatric disorders.1 2 There is a heightened risk of psychiatric disorders among people with low socioeconomic status; the associations with schizophrenia are clear, as are those with depression.3 4 The associations between education and depression have been shown to grow stronger with increasing age. 5 According to multifactorial models, a variety of environmental factors from early childhood and onward can be of importance for the development of psychiatric disorders. [6][7][8] There are many indications that in addition to the general associations between socioeconomic status and psychiatric disorders, specific factors, for instance in the working environment, can play an important role. Studies of associations between working conditions and psychological ill health are few, and the need for more research has been pointed out.9 10 For people with certain occupations, for example social workers, factory line workers, salespeople, lawyers, teachers, and secretaries, the prevalence of depression has been shown to be particularly high.11 The aetiology of psychiatric disorders, in particular depression and anxiety, can be affected by high demands and little possibility to plan and control one's work, ...