Association between Self-Perceived Social Support in the Workplace and the Presence of Depressive/Anxiety Symptoms

This study aimed to investigate the association of support from colleagues and supervisors at the workplace on depressive and anxiety symptoms in wage earners from Korea. The data used in this study were from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted in 2017 and analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Furthermore, we measured the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of depressive and anxiety symptoms by stratifying covariates. The ORs of depressive and anxiety symptoms for the non-support group were higher than for the support group in terms of support from both colleagues and supervisors. The results of the stratified analysis of covariates, male, young, highly-educated, full-time, and white-collar groups were associated with the lack of support. Support from colleagues and supervisors was significantly associated with the Korean wage worker's mental health-depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Further longitudinal and clinical studies on the relationship between mental health and support at the workplace are required.

Automated summary

This study found that support from colleagues and supervisors in the workplace has a significant impact on depressive and anxiety symptoms in Korean wage earners, with higher odds of symptoms in the non-support group. Factors such as being male, young, highly-educated, full-time, and white-collar were associated with a lack of support. Further longitudinal and clinical studies are needed to explore the relationship between mental health and workplace support.