Meta-analysis of the Effects of Health Promotion Intervention in the Workplace on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 7 - 18
• Main Authors: Martin, Angela, Sanderson, Kristy, Cocker, Fiona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Helsinki Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.01.2009; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; National Institute of Occupational Health; National Research Centre for the Working Environment; Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health; Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Aged; Anxiety; Anxiety - physiopathology; Anxiety - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Combined stress; Depression; Depression - physiopathology; Depression - prevention & control; Depressive disorders; Female; Health Promotion; Humans; Job stress; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Mental Health; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Occupational health; Psychoeducational intervention; Psychological stress; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Review; Risk factors; Stress management skills; Systematic review; Workplace; Workplaces; Young Adult; Australia; Oceania; employee; systematic review; mental health; depression risk; Mood disorder; Human; Affect affectivity; Work place; Health promotion; Evidence-based practice; Mental health; Anxiety disorder; Depression; Systematic review; Risk; Review; Evidence-based medicine; Metaanalysis; Symptomatology; Employee; Risk factor; Anxiety; Occupational medicine; Bibliographic review
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X
• DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.1295

Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate whether different types of health promotion intervention in the workplace reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was undertaken on workplace health promotion published during the period 1997-2007. Studies were considered eligible for inclusion if they evaluated the impact of an intervention using a valid indicator or specific measure of depression or anxiety symptoms. The standardized mean difference was calculated for each of the following three types of outcome measures: depression, anxiety, and composite mental health. Results Altogether 22 studies were found that met the inclusion criteria, with a total sample size of 3409 employees postintervention, and 17 of these studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 20 intervention-control comparisons. The pooled results indicated small, but positive overall effects of the interventions with respect to symptoms of depression [SMD 0.28, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.12-0.44] and anxiety (SMD 0.29, 95% CI 0.06-0.51), but no effect on composite mental health measures (SMD 0.05, 95% CI -0.03-0.13). The interventions that included a direct focus on mental health had a comparable effect on depression and anxiety symptoms, as did the interventions with an indirect focus on risk factors. Conclusions When the aim is to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety in employee populations, a broad range of health promotion interventions appear to be effective, although the effect is small.