Team climate at work associated with mental health in the Health 2000 Study in Finland

Introduction
Depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders are common problems in the working population. However, the relationship between poor team climate at work and common mental disorders has not been studied using standardised interview methods in population-based samples. This study examined the associations of team climate at work with concurrent depressive, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders and subsequent antidepressant medication in a random sample of Finnish employees.

Methods
The nationally representative sample comprised 3347 employees aged 30-64 years. Team climate was measured with a self-assessment scale. DSM-IV diagnoses of depressive, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders were based on the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Purchases of antidepressant medication during three years were collected from a national pharmaceutical register of the Social Insurance Institution.

Results
Poor team climate at work was significantly associated with depressive disorders (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.10-2.36) but not with alcohol use disorders. The signifance of the association between anxiety disorders disappeared when the model was adjusted for the job control and job demands. Poor team climate also predicted antidepressant medication (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02-2.30).

Discussion
A poor team climate at work is associated with DSM-IV depressive disorders and is a risk factor for mental disorders treated with antidepressant medication.