Multiple discrimination at work and depressive symptoms in young adults

We aimed to estimate the implications of cumulative exposure to discrimination at work for mental health among young adults. Our specific objective was to investigate if experiencing multiple types of discrimination at work is associated with depressive symptoms.

We analyzed cross-sectional questionnaire data from 1066 participants (56.8% female, mean age 31.3 years) of the third phase of the German Study on Occupational Allergy Risks (2017-2018, response 47.3%). Participants were asked whether during the last twelve months they had experienced one or more of seven types of discrimination at their workplace. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) was used for screening of symptoms of depression. We performed multivariate logistic regression to estimate the association between the number of experienced types of discrimination at work and depressive symptoms.

Discrimination due to sex was the most often reported type (6.1% of participants). Experience of two or more forms of discrimination was indicated by 2.5% of the participants. One hundred four individuals (9.8%) were screened positive for depression. Before adjustment for work stress, individuals reporting two or more types of discrimination at work had more than six times the odds of depressive symptoms compared to the non-exposed reference group (Odds Ratio (OR): 6.31, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.67 to 14.89). After adjustment for work stress, the OR for the association between two or more types of discrimination and depressive symptoms was 3.92 (95% CI: 1.40 to 11.01).

Our results support the hypothesis of an association between exposure to multiple discrimination at work and poor mental health, even though our effect estimates suffer from low statistical precision. Furthermore, the design of our analysis does not permit causal statements. In view of the entire scientific body of studies in the field, we argue that measures to reduce or abolish discrimination may be seen as important means of protecting mental health and well-being.