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DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1557961
Depression and burnout – Impact on sick leave and job satisfaction. Results from an epidemiological survey
Depression and burnout are considered essential factors for sick leave times and absenteeism. In the current fifth survey of the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (EDSP) study, we examine the interaction between mental health and work in more than 800 study participants. The EDSP study was initiated in 1994/95 and is based on a population sample from Munich city and surroundings, initially aged 14 to 24 years. In the recent survey the influences of the past and current mental and somatic health on job and workplace aspects of life are of particular interest. Our first results indicate the importance of depression and burnout on the assessment of the current living and working situation. Despite a strong overlap between depression and burnout, there are significant differences between the two diagnoses. Study participants with a lifetime diagnosis of mood disorder and those with burnout symptoms report both feelings of being overloaded and dissatisfied with their working and living conditions. Increased sick leave times are observed only in participants with a lifetime diagnosis of mood disorders, while those with burnout symptoms also report decreased job performance, however, without requiring a higher number of sick leave days. This phenomenon has been described as presentism, which seems to be characteristic for burnout.
This study was supported by bayme vbm – Die bayerischen Metall- und Elektro-Arbeitgeber.