The effect of occupational stress on depression and insomnia: a cross-sectional study among employees in a Ghanaian telecommunication company

Abstract

Background: Depression and insomnia are major psychiatric conditions predicted by occupational stress. However, the influence of occupational stress on these two conditions is under-explored in telecommunication companies, especially in Africa. This research was conducted to assess occupational stress in a Ghanaian telecommunication company and its effect on depression and insomnia. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among employees at a telecommunication company in Accra. Structured self-administered questionnaires were used in collecting data from 235 respondents using simple random sampling. The Chi-square test of independence and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test were employed to assess the significance of associations with subsequent sensitivity analysis using Multiple logistic, Poisson and Probit regression models. Occupational stress was matched on four variables: age of the workers, marital status, responsibility for dependents and work experience, to improve on the estimation of its impact on symptomatic depression and insomnia using the coarsened exact matching procedure. Results: More males (52.8%) than females participated in this study. The age range for study participants was 20-49 years with a mean of 30.8 ± 6.9 years. The prevalence of excessive occupational stress reported by the employees was 32.8% (95% CI = 26.7-38.8). More than half of respondents (51%) reported depressive symptoms in the past week and only a few (6%) reported being diagnosed with insomnia in the past year. Age, responsibility for dependents and work experience were the only background characteristics that were significantly associated with excessive occupational stress. After controlling for background characteristics, the estimated risk of reporting symptoms of depression among employees who reported excessive stress from work was only 5% higher [ARR; 95% CI = 1.05 (0.94-1.17)] whereas it was 2.58 times the risk of reporting insomnia [ARR; 95% CI = 2.58(0.83-8.00)] compared to those who did not report excessive stress from their jobs. The relative risk reduced to 2.46[ARR; 95% CI = 2.46(0.77-7.87)] and 1.03[ARR; 95% CI = 1.03(0.91-1.17)] for insomnia and depression respectively after employing Poisson regression with CEM.

Perceived Stress at Work and Associated Factors among E-Waste Workers in French-Speaking West Africa

“…The results obtained show a high prevalence of perceived stress (76.76%). In Ghana, Kploanyi et al (2020) reported a prevalence of occupational stress of 32.8% among the employees of telecommunications companies [ 10 ]. The high prevalence of workplace stress observed in the present study could be explained by the bad working environment conditions in the informal e-waste sector.…”

“…One study conducted in Ghana showed variable levels of stress and highlighted associations between exposure to adverse physical conditions and elevated heart rate among e-waste workers [ 9 ]. In the formal sector, it has been observed that occupational strain resulting from exposure to stressors in the workplace can affect the mental and physical health of employees [ 10 ]. Therefore, a study was conducted in five French-speaking West African countries to determine the prevalence and factors associated with perceived stress in the informal e-waste processing environment.…”

Insomnia among Prison Officers and Its Relationship with Occupational Burnout: The Role of Coping with Stress in Polish and Indonesian Samples

“…A study on a sample of telecommunication company employees and nurses showed that insomnia symptoms were related to alcohol use, with the highest insomnia levels being reported by high-risk drinkers, smokers, and individuals consuming more than three cups of coffee per day [141,142]. Structured interviews would also be a valuable addition.…”

The Mediating Role of Worker-Occupation Fit in the Relationship Between Occupational Stress and Depression Symptoms in 1988 Medical Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The current work style and intensity of society will continue to increase the occurrence and development of occupational stress, and may even induce a variety of stress-related diseases. Occupational stress is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, [i.e., depression ( 2 ), burnout ( 3 )], somatic diseases [i.e., insomnia ( 4 ), hypertension ( 5 )], and organizational outcomes [i.e., job satisfaction ( 6 ), wellness ( 7 )]. In recent decades, occupational stress represents a large, complex and costly phenomenon in the workplace worldwide ( 8 ).…”