“Mental health and specifically depressive symptoms are among the most susceptible and rapidly responsive outcomes affected by precarious employment (PE).”

As researchers Francesc Belvis, Ferran Muntané, Carles Muntaner, Joan Benach, and the PRESME research group explain, previous research has primarily concentrated on uncovering the negative impacts of employment conditions on mental health. However, there is limited evidence available regarding the burden of depression that could potentially be reduced by specifically addressing precarious employment.

Therefore, the study, conducted as an observational cross-sectional analysis, delved into the association between depression and PE, a prevalent issue in Spain where temporary employment rates remain high. The research revealed that 33.3% of depression cases among Spain's active population can be attributable to precarious employment and unemployment. This means that 167,000 out of 504,000 cases of depression in Spain could have been avoided by providing stable employment. Moreover, the risk gradient was particularly pronounced among women from lower occupational social classes, showing the intersectional nature of the problem.

For the authors, these findings emphasize the significant impact of precarious employment on mental health, offer evidence to assess the economic costs associated with work-related mental health issues, and stress the urgency for policy adjustments and interventions within labor markets and workplaces to tackle PE and thereby reduce its adverse effects in the population.

The full article can be accessed here.