Association of cognitive style and satisfaction with depressive symptoms in workers in Hokkaido, Japan

Recently in Japan, major depression, the depressive state, and suicide are increasingly becoming social problems, especially in the workplace. These requires preventive intervention. The present study was therefore carried out to examine the relationship of cognitive style and other factors with depressive symptoms in order to search for methods of preventive intervention for mental disorders. In January 2005, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a total of 3057 workers in Hokkaido, Japan. In addition to age, sex, and educational background, we investigated lifestyle factors, work-related conditions, psychiatric consultation, social supports, stressors, loci of control (LOC) for cognitive style, perceived job satisfaction, work environment, home atmosphere, and health with regard to cognitive style, Ozeki's coping style for stress, and the Center of Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) for depressive symptoms. After excluding data from incomplete responses, we analyzed 2132 workers, consisting of 1245 males and 887 females with an average age of 39.9 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significantly increased risk for a high CES-D score in the more external control group in the LOC for both sexes, and significantly increased risks for high CES-D scores were obtained in the unsatisfied category for job, work environment, home atmosphere, and health status. The external cognitive style and perceived dissatisfaction may increase the risk of depressive symptoms in workers. Thus, it may be possible to prevent the onset of depressive symptoms through intervention involving cognitive style.