Psychosocial and organizational work environment of nurse managers and self-reported depressive symptoms: cross-sectional analysis from a cohort of nurse managers.

OBJECTIVES The association between depressive symptoms and psycho-organisational work environment has been established in the literature. Some studies have evaluated depressive symptoms in healthcare workers, but little research has been carried out among nurse managers. The aim of the study is to evaluate the depressive symptoms prevalence among nurse managers' population and work environment factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS A descriptive correlational research design was used. Data were collected from 296 nurse managers in five hospitals in the eastern area of France between 2007 and 2008. Health outcomes were evaluated by measuring depressive symptoms (CES-D scale), the exposure data by assessing psycho-organisational work environment with effort-reward imbalance-model of Siegrist. Multiple logistic regressions were used to describe the strength of the association between depressive symptoms and effort-reward imbalance adjusted for personal and occupational characteristics of the nurse managers. RESULTS Among the nurse managers, a third had depressive symptoms, and 18% presented an effort-reward imbalance (ratio: ≥ 1). A significant association was found between depressive symptoms and effort-reward imbalance (OR = 10.81, 95% CI: 5.1-23, p < 10(-3)), and with esteem as a reward (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.6-6.3, p < 10(-2)). CONCLUSION In view of the hierarchical situation of nurse managers and their primary roles in hospitals, it is necessary to take prevention measures to improve their work environment and health.