Proposed Project
Work Organization Predictors of Depression in Women--Extension--The National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description
Depression is a costly and debilitating occupational health problem. Research has indicated that the costs to an organization of treatment for depression can rival those for heart disease, and both major depressive disorder and forms of minor depression have been found to be associated with more disability days than other types of health diagnoses. This may be of particular relevance for working women.
Various national and international studies indicate that women in developed countries experience depression at up to twice the rate of men.

Studies that have examined this gender difference have focused on social, personality, and genetic explanations while few haveexplored factors in the workplace that may contribute to the gender differential. Examples of workplace factors that may contribute to depression among women include: Additive workplace and home responsibilities, lack of control and authority, and low paying and low status jobs.

Additionally, women are much more likely to face various types of discrimination in the workplace than men, ranging from harassment to inequalities in hiring and promotional opportunities, and these types of stressors have been strongly linked with psychological distress and other negative health outcomes.

On the positive side, organizations that are judged by their employees to value diversity and employee development engender lower levels of employee stress, and those that enforce policies against discrimination have more committed employees. Such organizational practices and policies may be beneficial for employee mental health, particularly the mental health of women.

This research focuses on the following questions: (1) Which work organization factors are most predictive of depression in women, and (2) are there measurable work organization factors that confer protection against depression in women employees?

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice.

To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call 404-639-5960 and send comments to Joan Karr, CDC Acting Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D74, Atlanta, GA 30333 or send an e-mail to
[email protected].