Comparing Depressive Symptoms, Emotional Exhaustion, and Sleep Disturbances in Self-Employed and Employed Workers: Application of Approximate Bayesian Measurement Invariance

Abstract

Studies investigating differences in mental health problems between self-employed and employed workers have provided contradictory results. Many of the studies utilized scales validated for employed workers, without collecting validity evidence for making comparisons with self-employed. The aim of this study was (1) to collect validity evidence for three different scales assessing depressive symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and sleep disturbances for employed workers, and combinators; and (2) to test if these groups differed. We first conducted approximate measurement invariance analysis and found that all scales were invariant at the scalar level. Self-employed workers had least mental health problems and employed workers had most, but differences were small. Though we found the scales invariant, we do not find them optimal for comparison of means. To be more precise in describing differences between groups, we recommend using clinical cut-offs or scales developed with the specific purpose of assessing mental health problems at work.

How Does the Involuntary Choice of Self-Employment Affect Subjective Well-Being in Small-Sized Business Workers? A Cross-Sectional Study from the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey

“…In general, several studies have shown that self-employed workers are less emotionally stressed than other workers because they have greater work discretion and self-efficacy [ 7 , 8 ]. However, as mentioned in the introduction section, due to the characteristics of Korea, which has a high proportion of small business owners, it has been found that self-employed workers have more mental health problems than workers employed elsewhere [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ].…”

“…There have been a few studies which have shown that self-employed workers suffer less emotional stress than employed workers [ 7 , 8 ]. It is known that this is because self-employed workers have a higher degree of discretion and freedom of work compared to employed workers.…”

Investigation of Bruxism Frequency and Pain Intensity in Different Occupational Groups: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Bireysel yeteneklerin ortaya konulması, kendini gerçekleştirme ve doyumun yüksek, tükenmişliğin düşük olma olasılığı serbest meslek grubunda diğer sektörlere göre daha yüksektir. 24,25 Bu bakımdan serbest meslek çalışanlarında bruksizme ilişkin risk katsayısı ve ağrı şiddetinin düşük olması beklenen bir sonuçtur.…”