Long working hours, perceived work stress, and common mental health conditions among full-time Canadian working population: A national comparative study

We investigated the relationship between working long hours and work-related stress as occupational risk factors for mental health conditions over a 10-year period, stratified by sex. For this comparative study on cohort effects, we utilized cross-sectional survey data from two sources: the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health and Well-being component (CCHS-MHW, 2002) and the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health component (CCHS-MH, 2012). The final subsamples were (N=14179) in the CCHS-MHW and (N=9578) for CCHS-MH. Modified Poisson regression models were fitted. The study estimated the prevalence of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicide ideation, as well as their determinants over time and by sex. Between 2002 and 2012, we observed a minor variation in the occurrence of depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and suicide ideation. While perceived work-related stress was a more influential determinant than long working hours, factors such as job dissatisfaction, personal history of mental health disorders, divorce, and multimorbidity were consistent predictors of mental health conditions across both cohorts. Moreover, we observed sex-related differences in the prevalence and predictors of mental health conditions over time. Due to the cross-sectional design of the surveys, we were unable to determine temporal connections between risk factors and mental disorders. Additionally, the lack of certain established risk factors for mental disorders in the 2002 cohort made it difficult to make a fair comparison. The findings of this study suggest that the psychosocial work environment has a significant impact on the mental health of workers. Therefore, public health prevention efforts should prioritize policies and interventions that aim to improve work environments and stress management among the Canadian working population.