The role of optimism in the relationship between job stress and depressive symptoms. Longitudinal findings from the German Ageing Survey

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of job stress on depressive symptoms and whether optimism moderates this relationship longitudinally. Data were used from 2002 until 2014 (wave 2 to 5) of the German Ageing Survey. The sample consists of community-dwelling individuals living in Germany aged from 40 to 95 years (7086 observations in fixed effects regression analysis).

METHODS: A self-report questionnaire was used to measure depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), job stress (scale 1 to 5) and optimism (Optimism Scale of Brandtstaedter & Wentura).

RESULTS: Adjusting for potential confounders, fixed effects regression analysis revealed that an increase in job stress was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, whereas an increase in optimism was associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms. Optimism significantly moderated the relation between job stress and depressive symptoms.

LIMITATIONS: The possibility of a small sample selection bias cannot be dismissed.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study highlights the moderating role of optimism in the relation between job stress and depressive symptoms longitudinally. Thus, efforts to increase optimism in individuals might be beneficial in reducing depressive symptoms among individuals with high job stress.