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Job Demands and Job Control as Predictors of Depressive Symptoms: Moderating Effects of Negative Childhood Socioemotional Experiences
Author(s) -
PulkkiRåback Laura,
Elovainio Marko,
Virtanen Marianna,
Kivimäki Mika,
Hintsanen Mirka,
Hintsa Taina,
Jokela Markus,
Puttonen Sampsa,
Joensuu Matti,
Lipsanen Jari,
Raitakari Olli T.,
KeltikangasJärvinen Liisa
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.2632
Subject(s) - socioemotional selectivity theory , job control , psychology , psychosocial , vulnerability (computing) , adverse childhood experiences , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , early childhood , association (psychology) , mental health , psychiatry , work (physics) , mechanical engineering , computer security , computer science , engineering , psychotherapist
There have been calls to know more about vulnerability factors that may predispose to adverse health outcomes at work. We examined if childhood adverse experiences would affect vulnerability to psychosocial stress factors at work. A nationally representative sample of 1546 Finnish men and women was followed up from childhood to adulthood. Childhood adverse experiences consisted of socioeconomic and emotional factors. Job demands and job control were measured 21 years later, and depressive symptoms were measured 21 and 27 years after the childhood measurements. Job demands predicted depressive symptoms over 6 years, and the association was modified by childhood emotional adversity. Participants with three or more emotional adversities in childhood had more depressive symptoms in response to high job demands compared with participants with zero or one emotional adversities in childhood ( Betas = −1.40 and −2.01, p s < 0.05 and <0.01). No such moderating effect by childhood adverse experiences was found for the association between job control and depressive symptoms. Although modest in effect size, these findings provide a developmental viewpoint for understanding the role of childhood experiences in work‐related stress factors. Such knowledge can enhance understanding of individual differences in vulnerability to the demands of working life. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.