The Determinants of Suicidal Ideation in Workers: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the direct and indirect effects of the determinants of suicidal ideation in workers, focusing on global dissatisfaction as the main exposure. Methods: A cross-sectional study, with secondary data from a cohort of a population aged 15 or over, and resident in the urban zone of a large municipality of Bahia, Brazil. We applied a structured questionnaire, including socio-demographic and work data. Leisure activities and occupational stressors were evaluated; we measured global dissatisfaction and suicidal ideation. We processed the structural equation modeling, with consideration of complex samples. Results:The frequency of suicidal ideation (SI) was 5% in the sample of 1,629 workers studied. Significant direct effects for SI were observed for global dissatisfaction (β=0.72; p-value=0.001), and a high emotional demand of work (β=0.27; p=0.007). Being female, having a low monthly income, the absence of leisure activities, excessive commitment to work, and a high emotional demand of work presented significant indirect effects, mediated by global dissatisfaction. Conclusion:The surveillance of workers’ health depends on information which enables protective intervention actions to be planned. The paths indicated by this study provide an understanding of a chain of events which leads workers to an unbearable level of suffering, and to consider suicide as the solution to their problems.