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By admin On October 24th, 2008

Rates Of Depression Vary By Occupational Industry and Gender

According to a study recently conducted by Gordian Health Solutions, Inc., a national personal health company, varying occupations and gender can contribute to differing instances of depression. The group examined 13 different occupational industries and found that the arts-entertainment-recreation, retail trade and utilities industries had the highest prevalence of depressed workers, citing depression for periods of up to two weeks at a time. Among women the percentage of depressed workers was on average 10% higher. The study also examined the lifetime prevalence of depression among the workers and found similar results. The following is an excerpt of an article from Medical News Today that reviews the study:

– Arts-entertainment-recreation: 29% of female employees self-reported depressive symptoms occurring for two weeks or more over the past year, compared to 18% of male employees
– Retail trade: 29% of females, 19% of males
– Utilities: 27% of females, 16% of males

The Gordian study found similar industry and gender patterns for self-reported lifetime prevalence of depressive symptoms, with the highest percentage of employees reporting feeling depressed for two years or more in their lifetime in the retail trade, public administration, arts-entertainment-recreation, finance-insurance and utilities industries. The lowest rates of lifetime prevalence of depressive symptoms were noted in the management consulting, educational services and food manufacturing industries.

“Depression among employees is extremely costly to employers, given its well-documented links to other health problems, increased medical expenditures, absenteeism, presenteeism and job turnover,” said Adam Long, Ph.D., vice president of research and informatics at Gordian. “Employers, particularly those in sectors showing the higher rates of employee depression, have a huge stake in helping their employees deal with depression and should consider devoting resources to address this issue.”

Click here to read the rest of this article from Medical News Today