Work Environment, Depressive Symptoms and Hopelessness: A Study among Employees

In France, suicide is considered a major public health problem since the 1990s. During the same period, researchers began to explain that suicides largely due to work were considerably growing in France. Nevertheless, only a few empirical studies deal with the theme. The current study analysed possible links between clinical factors (depressive symptoms, feelings of hopelessness) and work factors, including work characteristics (i.e., decision latitude, demands, social support, efforts, rewards, over-commitment), relations (harassment), and work-related psychological factors (basic needs satisfaction at work, burnout). For the study, employees from different sectors completed a self-report questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were linked to low extrinsic rewards, over-commitment at work, harassment at work, and emotional exhaustion. Feelings of hopelessness were linked to efforts, low intrinsic rewards, over-commitment at work, low satisfaction of the need of competencies at work, and low personal accomplishment at work. The discussion considers these factors as indicators for mental health and suicide prevention in a work environment.