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BackgroundLong-term sickness absence (LTSA) is most commonly due to common mental disorders and symptom-based conditions. Relatively little research has examined individual, as opposed to occupational, risk factors for LTSA. Individual appraisal of the workplace has been considered in several studies but self-rated health has more often been examined as a consequence of, rather than as a risk factor for, sickness absence. We aimed to study the association between self-rated health and later LTSA.MethodWe used data from the 1970 British Cohort Study (BCS70). LTSA was defined as being in receipt of Incapacity Benefit (IB)/Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) at age 34. The mother rated the participant's overall health at age 16; the participants self-rated at age 30. Reports of psychological and somatic symptoms were available at age 16; data on major health conditions were available at age 30.ResultsAnalyses were restricted to those working, studying or caring for children at age 30 (n = 14 105). One hundred and fifty-six (1.1%) were receiving IB or SDA by age 34. After adjustment for social class at birth, educational attainment, health conditions at age 30 and psychological and somatic symptoms at age 16, those who reported their health as poor had more than five times the odds of being long-term sick at age 34.ConclusionsThe overall appraisal of an individual's health as poor, independent of any diagnosis, is a significant vulnerability factor for LTSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEvidence for an effect of work stressors on common mental disorders (CMD) has increased over the past decade. However, studies have not considered whether the effects of work stressors on CMD remain after taking co-occurring non-work stressors into account.MethodData were from the 2007 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, a national population survey of participants ⩾16 years living in private households in England. This paper analyses data from employed working age participants (N=3383: 1804 males; 1579 females). ICD-10 diagnoses for depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia, panic or mixed anxiety and depression in the past week were derived using a structured diagnostic interview. Questionnaires assessed self-reported work stressors and non-work stressors.ResultsThe effects of work stressors on CMD were not explained by co-existing non-work stressors. We found independent effects of work and non-work stressors on CMD. Job stress, whether conceptualized as job strain or effort–reward imbalance, together with lower levels of social support at work, recent stressful life events, domestic violence, caring responsibilities, lower levels of non-work social support, debt and poor housing quality were all independently associated with CMD. Social support at home and debt did not influence the effect of work stressors on CMD.ConclusionsNon-work stressors do not appear to make people more susceptible to work stressors; both contribute to CMD. Tackling workplace stress is likely to benefit employee psychological health even if the employee's home life is stressful but interventions incorporating non-work stressors may also be effective. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: Cultural integration is the healthiest outcome for young people living in multicultural societies. This paper investigates the influence of different cultural identities on the risk of common mental disorders among Bangladeshi and white British pupils. Design: The cultural identity of 11-14-year-old school pupils was assessed by their preferences for friends and clothes of their own or other cultural groups; using this information pupils were classified into traditional, integrated, assimilated or marginalised groups. We undertook prospective analyses of cultural identity and its impacts on the later mental health of young people. Setting: East London. Participants: In 2001, white British (573) and Bangladeshi (682) school pupils from a representative sample of schools completed a self-report questionnaire that assessed their cultural, social and health characteristics. In 2003, 383 white British and 517 Bangladeshi pupils were resurveyed and completed measures of mental health. Main outcome measure: Strengths and difficulties questionnaire. Results: Bangladeshi pupils preferring clothes from their own cultural group (traditional clothing) were less likely to have later mental health problems when compared with Bangladeshi pupils showing an equal preference for clothing from their own and other cultures (integrated clothing; odds ratio (OR) 0.3, 95% Cl 0.1 to 0.9). In gender-specific analyses, this finding was sustained only among Bangladeshi girls (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.7). Integrated clothing choices were least risky only for white British adolescents. Friendship choices showed no prospective associations with later mental health problems. Conclusions: Cultural identity, expressed by clothing preferences, influences mental health; the effects differ by gender and ethnic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Road rage is a concept recently popularised by the press. An association with psychiatric illness is implied from reports of such drivers being "mad". Previous literature has demonstrated a link between road traffic accidents and mental illness. This study examines the relationship between road rage and psychiatric morbidity. It aims to estimate the prevalence of road rage by self-report and elucidate demographic and psychiatric factors associated with road rage.Method: This is a cross-sectional study of attendees at general practice clinics that examines self-reported road rage and psychiatric morbidity. Assessment was based on the total score on the Clinical Interview Schedule (revised version; CIS-R), Aggression Questionnaire, Screening Test for Comorbid Personality Disorders, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Life Events Schedule.Results: Fifty-three percent of 131 subjects reported a recent incident of road rage. Perpetrator and victim groups differed from controls. Perpetrators had increased aggression scores and psychiatric morbidity. There was a strong association with male sex and illicit drug use, and a strong negative association with driving experience. A weaker association was found with youth. Victims showed increased psychiatric morbidity and were more likely than perpetrators to seek help for emotional problems. Life events stress, social class, alcohol use and personality disorder had no significant effect.Conclusion: There is an association between road rage and psychiatric morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To better understand the initial phases of employee sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMD), this study explores managers’ recommendation for sick leave to a CMDlabelled video vignette case. The aim was to investigate the associations between sick leave recommendation and 1) managers’ experience of persons with CMD, and 2) managers’ previous recommendation of sick leave for employees with CMD, and 3) managers’ attitudes toward employees with CMD. Methods: An online survey was sent in 2017 to 4,737 Swedish managers, aged 20-65 years (71% participated, n = 3,358). The survey included two randomized video vignettes, one female and one male. The vignettes were two minutes long. For aims 1 and 3 a study sample consisting of 2714 managers were used. For the second aim a sub-sample (n = 1740) was used due to the design of the survey questions. Results: The bi-variate analysis showed that personal experience of CMD was associated with managers’ recommendation of employee sick leave. In the adjusted regression model, it became insignificant (p = 0.056). Having previous experience of recommending sick leave to one employee (OR 3.7, 95% C.I. 2.90-4.73), and to several employees (OR 7.1, 95% C.I. 4.27-11.82), were associated with recommending sick leave, adjusted for gender, level of education, years of managerial experience, and having had management training on CMDs. Finally, there was no significant association (p = 0.071) between negative attitudes towards employee depression and managers’ recommendation of employee sick leave to the vignette case. Conclusions: The likelihood of a manager recommending sick leave after watching a CMD-labelled video vignette was higher if the manager had previously experienced this situation in real life. We consider this study being important as a first study looking into managers’ attitudes and personal experience and recommendations of sick leave. Key messages: • The odds for recommending sick leave to a video vignette case was higher if managers had this experience. • This study highlights the importance of including managerial behaviors to understand the sick leave process for employees with CMD. Background: To better understand the initial phases of employee sickness absence due to common mental disorders (CMD), this study explores managers’ recommendation for sick leave to a CMDlabelled video vignette case. The aim was to investigate the associations between sick leave recommendation and 1) managers’ experience of persons with CMD, and 2) managers’ previous recommendation of sick leave for employees with CMD, and 3) managers’ attitudes toward employees with CMD. Methods: An online survey was sent in 2017 to 4,737 Swedish managers, aged 20-65 years (71% participated, n = 3,358). The survey included two randomized video vignettes, one female and one male. The vignettes were two minutes long. For aims 1 and 3 a study sample consisting of 2714 managers were used. For the second aim a sub-sample (n = 1740) was used due to the design of the survey questions. Results: The bi-variate analysis showed that personal experience of CMD was associated with managers’ recommendation of employee sick leave. In the adjusted regression model, it became insignificant (p = 0.056). Having previous experience of recommending sick leave to one employee (OR 3.7, 95% C.I. 2.90-4.73), and to several employees (OR 7.1, 95% C.I. 4.27-11.82), were associated with recommending sick leave, adjusted for gender, level of education, years of managerial experience, and having had management training on CMDs. Finally, there was no significant association (p = 0.071) between negative attitudes towards employee depression and managers’ recommendation of employee sick leave to the vignette case. Conclusions: The likelihood of a manager recommending sick leave after watching a CMD-labelled video vignette was higher if the manager had previously experienced this situation in real life. We consider this study being important as a first study looking into managers’ attitudes and personal experience and recommendations of sick leave. Key messages: • The odds for recommending sick leave to a video vignette case was higher if managers had this experience. • This study highlights the importance of including managerial behaviors to understand the sick leave process for employees with CMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Social capital is emerging as an important component of mental well-being. Our aim was to assess the relationship between social capital and common mental disorders and to explore the role of social capital in the relationship between deprivation and common mental disorders. Methods: This study used data collected from 7023 adults in England who completed the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (2007). Common mental disorders (CMD) were measured using CIS-R. Questions on both cognitive (CSC) and structural social capital were included, as well as data on area level deprivation. Results: We found a strong association between higher CSC and lower levels of CMD, depression and anxiety. Structural social capital was associated with lower levels of CMD and depression but was not conclusively associated with lower levels of anxiety. While there is a relationship between low social capital and deprivation, we found that higher CSC was still associated with lower CMD in participants living in deprived areas. Results for structural social capital were less conclusive although an association with lower overall CMD was still found in the most deprived communities. Conclusion: In a nationally representative sample, higher social capital is associated with lower levels of CMD. There appears to be a relationship between low social capital and deprivation and this may have implications for the mental wellbeing of individuals living in deprived communities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Individuals who are out of work have a higher rate of common mental disorders (CMD) than individuals who are employed. People who are unemployed in the UK are entitled to welfare benefits to alleviate financial strain. This study examined rates of CMD in individuals who were employed, unemployed and receiving various UK benefits. It also investigated associations between duration of unemployment, gender and CMD. Study design: An analysis of 5090 working-age participants from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007, a stratified probability sample survey conducted among adults aged 16 years and over living in private households in England. Methods: CMD was assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule (Revised). Information was gathered on sociodemographics, employment, income, benefits and debt. Data were analysed using logistic regression. Results: Risk of CMD was significantly greater in individuals classified as: unemployed; economically inactive; not working due to physical health reasons; unable to find a suitable job; receiving housing, care or sickness benefit; and receiving income support. However, risk of CMD was not significantly greater in individuals receiving jobseeker's allowance. Individuals unemployed for less than 1 year or more than 3 years had a higher risk of CMD. Some interactions with gender were significant, with associations being greater in men than women. Conclusions: Job loss events are not the only reason for unemployed people to develop CMD. The state of unemployment itself may be detrimental to mental health. Risk of CMD is increased in those who have been out of work for 3 years or more. Associations between benefits and mental health are likely to be due to social, health or economic circumstances associated with benefit eligibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]