Depressive Symptoms Among Pork-Processing Workers in the Midwest

Details

• Personal Author:
  Euler M ; Hauser R ; Herstein K ; Lander L ; Mittleman MA ; Perry MJ ; Sorock, Gary S. ; Stentz TL
• Description:
  Objective: While pork processing is fast-paced and physically demanding industry, the mental health characteristics of pork processing workers have not been studied. Methods: Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Burnam screening tool (6 items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and 2 items from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule). Matched case-control analyses were conducted among 142 workers to evaluate the effect of depression on the risk of laceration injury. Results: 404 workers were interviewed (70% male, 44% Hispanic) in two plants. Depressive symptoms were found in 11.9% (n=48) workers: 8% men and 20% women (OR 2.87, 95%CI:1.56-5.29, p<0.01). Hispanic ethnicity was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms: 19 (11%) Hispanic workers and 29 (14%) non-Hispanic workers reported depressive symptoms (OR 0.74, 95%CI:0.40-1.38, p-value 0.35). Working for more than 35 months (median) was associated with depressive symptoms (16% vs. 8%, OR 2.03, 95%CI:1.08-3.80, p-value 0.027). Presence of depressive symptoms was not associated with lacerations: among workers who experienced lacerations, 15% (20) reported presence of depressive symptoms compared to 12% (17) among workers who did not experience such injury (OR 0.81 (0.39-1.69), p-value 0.58). Adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and job tenure did not change the results. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of depressive symptoms among the workers. Depression was not shown to be a risk factor for occupational laceration injuries. Evaluation of depressive symptom causes among meatpacking plants workers is needed to elucidate prevention and treatment strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Food-Processing Industry Food Industry Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Animal Products Workers Author Keywords: Occupational Health Food Processing Workers Injuries Meat Packing Industry Mental Health Occupational Injury And Death Psychological Factors Risk Factors
• Publisher:
  American Public Health Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; Massachusetts ; Nebraska ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 7 ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059225
• Citation:
  APHA 138th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 6-10, 2010, Denver, Colorado. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association, 2010 Nov; :229312
• Contact Point Address:
  Lina Lander, ScD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Epidemiology, 984395 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Performing Organization:
  Harvard School of Public Health
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050901
• Source Full Name:
  APHA 138th Annual Meeting and Exposition, November 6-10, 2010, Denver, Colorado
• End Date:
  20110831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:241f715545303b3bb04e5412317e800a4e52b74474995fe248796c4ad771facc5a09216f9e354ef92d6b191bfa9adf636b1872900588cbd541037f740608b406
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223513/cdc_223513_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 137.62 KB ]