Italian version of the Occupational Depression Inventory: Validity, reliability, and associations with health, economic, and work-life characteristics

Abstract

BackgroundThe Occupational Depression Inventory (ODI) reflects a new approach to job-related distress centered on work-attributed depressive symptoms. The instrument was developed with reference to the characterization of major depression found in the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fifth edition. The ODI has been validated in English, French, and Spanish. This study (a) investigated the psychometric and structural properties of the ODI's Italian version and (b) inquired into the nomological network of occupational depression.MethodsA convenience sample of 963 employed individuals was recruited in Italy (69.9% female; mean age = 40.433). We notably relied on exploratory structural equation modeling bifactor analysis, common-practice confirmatory factor analysis, and Mokken scale analysis to examine our dataset.ResultsOur analyses indicated that the Italian version of the ODI meets the requirements for essential unidimensionality, thus justifying the use of the instrument's total score. The ODI's reliability was excellent. Measurement invariance held across sexes, age groups, and occupations. Occupational depression was negatively associated with general wellbeing and positively associated with a 12-month history of depressive disorder, current antidepressant intake, 12-month sick leave, 6-month physical assault at work, 6-month verbal abuse at work, lack of money for leisure activities, and financial strain in the household.ConclusionsThe ODI's Italian version exhibits robust psychometric and structural properties, suggesting that the instrument can be fruitfully used for addressing job-related distress in Italian-speaking populations. Furthermore, the present study relates occupational depression to important health, economic, and work-life characteristics, including past depressive episodes, antidepressant medication, sickness-related absenteeism, workplace violence, and economic stress.

Teachers' occupational health: A structural model of work‐related stress, depressed mood at work, and organizational commitment

“…Occupational well‐being encompasses multiple aspects of a job, including workplace quality, safety, organizational culture, work engagement, and personal feelings related to one's job (Fox et al, 2023). This concept has been the subject of extensive research across several disciplines due to its significant impact on employees, individuals, and organizations unless properly addressed (Bianchi et al, 2022; Zhou, 2018). The teaching profession, in particular, has attracted substantial interest from researchers in the education, public health, and organizational behavior fields through a focus on the compromised occupational well‐being of teachers that includes experiences of work‐related stress, depression at work, and a lack of commitment to the organization.…”

“…Depression develops as a response to challenging situations in personal and work settings, and is characterized by psychological (such as robust gloominess and desperation), behavioral (including a reduction in act speeds and loss of relevance), cognitive (such as a lack of confidence about the future and loss), and biological symptoms (such as a decrease in energy levels and appetite) due to difficulty in coping with these situations (Papastylianou et al, 2009). It can stem from both individuals' social lives and working settings and conditions (Bianchi et al, 2022; Brady et al, 2023). What's more, it is not only affected by the work setting but also affects the work environment (Besse et al, 2015).…”

“…What's more, it is not only affected by the work setting but also affects the work environment (Besse et al, 2015). Hence, overcoming depression in the workplace will be beneficial not only for individuals and society but also for organizations (Bianchi et al, 2022).…”

Psychometric Validity of the Areas of Work Life Scale (AWS) in Teachers and Healthcare Workers in México

“…Although the conception of burnout syndrome is still subject to some debate [ 9 , 10 ] and its definition varies across authors, regions, and contexts, a 35-year review [ 11 ] concludes that a three-dimensional definition has achieved almost universal acceptance in research. So, burnout is a specific type of chronic workplace stress-related outcome characterized by feelings of exhaustion, cynicism towards the job, and a sense of ineffectiveness [ 12 ].…”