Occupational stress and common mental disorders: how do coping strategies work?

Coping strategies are described as devices capable of minimizing the effects of occupational stress on workers' mental health.

To evaluate the association between occupational stressors and occurrence of common mental disorders and how coping strategies work in this relationship.

This is a cross-sectional study with 3,343 healthcare workers from six municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Common mental disorders were measured by the Self-Reporting Questionnaire, and occupational stressors by the Job Content Questionnaire. Coping strategies included physical activity, leisure activities, social support at work, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed, stratified by sex.

Occupational stressors were associated with common mental disorders, more strongly among women. The practice of physical activity contributed to reduce the prevalence of common mental disorders, regardless of occupational stressors. Leisure activities were associated with lower prevalence of common mental disorders, but without statistical significance, losing relevance in the presence of occupational stressors. Social support and smoking or drinking habits were not associated with common mental disorders and did not influence the relationship with occupational stressors.

Occupational stressors are associated with common mental disorders, with emphasis on high demand, even after adjusted for coping strategies. The relationship between occupational stressors and mental is corroborated, with greater female vulnerability, as well as the role of positive coping strategies in protecting mental health. The pertinence of adopting measures that reduce stress at work, promote the adoption of positive coping strategies, and consider gender inequalities in these relationships.