The Association of Occupational Stress and Depressive Symptoms among Employed Persons with Benign Breast Disease: The Mediating Role of Psychological Capital

<b><i>Background:</i></b><i></i>To evaluate the association between depressive symptoms and occupational stress, and the possibility of psychological capital (PsyCap) in alleviating depressive symptoms and occupational stress, we investigated the mediating role of PsyCap on the association between depressive symptoms and occupational stress among employed persons with benign breast disease (BBD) diagnosed by using ultrasonography. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 371 employed persons with BBD. Self-administered questionnaires, including the items of depressive symptoms, occupational stress, the 24-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire, as well as the age, education, marital status, occupation, monthly income, and weekly working hours, were obtained from all patients. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to measure the depressive symptoms, an effort-reward imbalance model was used to assess occupational stress, while 24-item Psychological Capital Questionnaire measurements were used to measure the PsyCap. Baron and Kenny’s technique was used to test the mediating effect of PsyCap. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In total, 62% of employed persons with BBD had scores equal to or above the cutoff point (CES-D ≥16). Overcommitment was not significantly correlated with PsyCap (<i>r</i> = –0.096, <i>p</i> = 0.066). Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with the effort-reward ratio (ERR) (β = 0.327, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) in model 2, and it was negatively correlated with PsyCap (β = –0.339, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) in model 3. PsyCap associated with ERR mediated the depressive symptoms. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Besides the medical intervention, the management of depressive symptoms and decrease in occupational stress should be considered to alleviate the depressive symptoms associated with employed persons with BBD. PsyCap is an active resource for relieving depressive symptoms and reducing occupational stress in persons with BBD.