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Depressive Symptoms are Associated with Lower Bone Mineral Density in Young Adults with High Job Strain. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

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Abstract

Background

Job strain has been associated with depressive symptoms, and depression has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD).

Purpose

The associations between BMD and job strain have not been studied. We examined the relations between BMD, job strain, and depressive symptoms in a population-based group of young adults in Finland.

Method

Ultrasonic measurement of BMD at the calcaneus was performed on 777 participants (men 45 %, aged 30–45) drawn from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Job strain was assessed by self-administered questionnaires by the combination of job demands and job control. Depressive symptoms were assessed with a modified Beck Depression Inventory. The effects of job strain on BMD were studied with multivariable analyses with age, sex, BMI, vitamin D, and calcium intake, physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, and depressive symptoms as covariates.

Results

Depressive symptoms were independently associated with lower BMD T score in participants with high job strain (β = −0.241, p = 0.02), but depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with BMD in the low (β = −0.160, p = 0.26) and intermediate (β = −0.042, p = 0.66) job strain categories.

Conclusion

The results suggest that job strain modifies the association between depressive symptoms and BMD. Depressed individuals with high work-related stress might be in increased risk of lower bone mineral density.

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Acknowledgments

The excellent statistical assistance of Ville Aalto (MSc) and Irina Lisinen (MSc) is gratefully acknowledged. The Young Finns Study has been financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grant no. 124282); the Social Insurance Institution of Finland; Kuopio, Tampere, and Turku University Hospital Medical Funds; Juho Vainio Foundation; Paavo Nurmi Foundation; Finnish Foundation of Cardiovascular Research and Finnish Cultural Foundation; Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation; and Emil Aaltonen Foundation. M. Hintsanen was also supported by the Ella & Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation and Research Funds of the University of Helsinki.

Conflict of Interest

There is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520, Turku, Finland

    M. Oikonen & O. T. Raitakari

  2. Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Hintsanen

  3. IBS, Unit of Personality Work and Health Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Hintsanen, L. Pulkki-Råback & L. Keltikangas-Järvinen

  4. Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    M. Laaksonen & V. Mikkilä

  5. Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    M. Kähönen

  6. Departments of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland

    T. Lehtimäki

  7. Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    J. S. A. Viikari

  8. Departments of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    O. T. Raitakari

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  1. M. Oikonen
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Correspondence to M. Oikonen.

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Oikonen, M., Hintsanen, M., Laaksonen, M. et al. Depressive Symptoms are Associated with Lower Bone Mineral Density in Young Adults with High Job Strain. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Int.J. Behav. Med. 21, 464–469 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9327-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-013-9327-9

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