Victimization in Childhood Influences Presenteeism in Adulthood via Mediation by Neuroticism and Perceived Job Stressors

Abstract

Background: Victimization in childhood profoundly influences the mental health of individuals in adulthood, causing depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, and self-harm, which leads to productivity loss in the workplace, ie, presenteeism. However, the specific effects of victimization on presenteeism remain unclear. We hypothesized that victimization affects the presenteeism of workers through neuroticism and perceived job stressors and analyzed the association among these factors by path analysis. Methods: A questionnaire survey, including demographic and clinical data, Japanese versions of victimization scale in childhood, Brief Job Stress Questionnaire, and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), was administered to 443 adult volunteers between April 2017 and April 2018 in Tokyo, Japan. Multiple variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis and path analysis. The Institutional Review Board of Tokyo Medical University approved this study. Results: Path analysis demonstrated that neuroticism and perceived job stressors had direct effects on presenteeism in the WLQ. Victimization indirectly increased presenteeism via neuroticism and its subsequent effects on perceived job stressors. This model accounted for 18% of the variability of presenteeism (R 2 = 0.180). Limitations: There may be possible recall bias owing to the self-administration of the questionnaire. In addition, this study had a cross-sectional design, and hence the causal associations among variables should be validated in a prospective study. Conclusion:The present study indicates that the experience of victimization in childhood is a risk factor of adulthood presenteeism, and this effect is mediated by neuroticism and adverse effects on job stressors. These results suggest that multiple factors, including childhood victimization, neuroticism, and job stressors, should be considered when assessing and preventing presenteeism.

Depressive rumination and trait anxiety mediate the effects of childhood victimization on adulthood depressive symptoms in adult volunteers

“…In the present study, we analyzed the interrelationships and mediating effects of 4 factors, namely, childhood victimization, and trait anxiety, depressive rumination, and depressive symptoms in adulthood, and found that childhood victimization had a direct and adverse effect on each of the other 3 factors, and had an indirect and adverse effect on depressive symptoms in adulthood through trait anxiety and depressive rumination as mediating factors. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to clarify these mediation effects, and the results are partly consistent with previous findings, including our own [ 11 – 14 , 16 ].…”

“…It has been noted that intervening and investing in the health, education, and welfare sectors in early childhood brings positive benefits to children, families, and the broader community, and ultimately these benefits lead to increased national productivity and gross domestic product [ 46 ]. Our recent study reported that childhood victimization experiences exacerbate presenteeism in adulthood, with adverse effects on neuroticism and work stressors as mediating factors [ 14 ]. The findings of the present study suggest that the mediating effects of trait anxiety and depressive rumination on adulthood depressive symptoms may be targets for the development of interventions in childhood that will produce long-term positive economic outcomes.…”

“…Third, we found that the quality of parenting experienced in childhood influenced depressive symptoms in adulthood, and this effect was mediated by childhood victimization and negative life events in adulthood [ 13 ]. Finally, we found that childhood experiences of victimization are a risk factor for presenteeism in adulthood, and this effect is mediated by neuroticism and adverse effects on work stressors [ 14 ]. Our series of studies suggested that childhood victimization interacts with childhood parenting, childhood abuse, neuroticism, and stressors to impact depression.…”

Complex effects of childhood abuse, subjective social status, and trait anxiety on presenteeism in adult volunteers from the community

“…In addition, they reported that the effects of childhood abuse on presenteeism are mediated by the coexistence of current depressive and anxiety disorders. On the other hand, it has also been reported that neuroticism has a mediating effect on the effect of childhood victimization experience on presenteeism ( Hashimoto et al, 2022 ). These previous studies and our present study demonstrate that harmful childhood experiences have a long-term indirect effect on presenteeism in the workplace in adulthood, and that this effect is mediated by anxiety tendencies.…”

“…It was reported that a history of childhood abuse affects current presenteeism, and the association is mediated by depression and anxiety ( De Venter et al, 2020 ). Another study reported that experiences of childhood victimization from peers in school or the community affect current presenteeism through neuroticism and perceived job stressors ( Hashimoto et al, 2022 ). Childhood victimization is not childhood abuse, but shares several common features in that both increase neuroticism and depression, and mediate the association between neuroticism and depression ( Tachi et al, 2019 ; Masuya et al, 2022 ).…”