Lifestyle factors and job status could also be to blame
Working overtime may be linked to depression in middle-aged office workers, according to a scientific study published this week.
Researchers found that people working 11 hours or more a day – of which three hours were overtime – were about two and a half times more likely to have a major depressive episode (MDE) than those who worked seven to eight-hour days.
The researchers looked at a group of 2,123 male and female British civil servants with an average age of 47. The London-based workers completed a questionnaire at the beginning of the study about their lifestyle and working conditions. Their mental health was also assessed. After an average of six years, the workers were interviewed to see if they had had any MDEs. A total of 66 people in the study developed a MDE.
A MDE is a severe period of depression, which can be life-threatening as people may have suicidal thoughts.
People in the study who were most likely to be affected by depression were generally younger, female, moderate drinkers, have a long-term physical illness, or a low-status job.
However, Dr Jenny Leeser, clinical director of occupational health, Bupa Health and Wellbeing, said the study also suggests that other factors outside of the workplace could be linked to depressive episodes.
“We can’t simply conclude that working long hours or overtime causes depression,” she said, adding that some other lifestyle or behavioural factor that occurs as a result of working long hours, for example, lack of sleep, is to blame.
“This theory is given further weight by the researchers’ finding that people with high-powered jobs who work long hours are actually less likely to develop depression,” she said.
Dr Leeser said staff who feel vulnerable to depression should speak to their employer who may be able to improve their situation of direct them to their company’s employee assistance programme.