Individual and contextual correlates of managers' attitudes toward depressed employees

Managers' attitudes toward depressed employees play an important role in effectively managing depression in the workplace. The present study pilot tested a survey measure of managers' attitudes toward depressed employees ( n =225). Exploratory factor analysis showed evidence of cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions in the measure of attitudes. Regression analyses examined relationships between the measure and a range of proposed individual and contextual correlates. Results showed that more negative attitudes toward depressed employees were endorsed by managers who reported a more internal locus of control, higher levels of stress, less familiarity with depression, and greater reticence to seek help. Managers who perceived their organizations to have unsupportive depression disclosure norms reported higher levels of stigma, and those whose organizations had a clear mental health strategy reported lower levels of stigma. The findings have important implications for developing human resource management strategies that deal with the increasing incidence and impact of depression in the workplace. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.