RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Work ability and work-family conflicts (total-WFCs) were associated with the risk of depression among the working population. METHODS: We recruited 3104 Egyptian civil workers between October 2019 and January 2020. The Work Ability Index (WAI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) and Midlife Development in the United States questionnaires were used to collect the data. Following Baron and Kenny criteria, the mediation effect of total-WFCs on the association between WAI and CES-D scores was tested by multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS: Findings revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) among Egyptian civil servants (43.4%). There were negative relationships between WAI score and both CES-D score (B = -0.70, P < 0.001) and total-WFCs score (B = -0.22, P < 0.001). Moreover, WAI score was still significantly associated with CES-D score after controlling for total-WFCs score (B = -0.40, P < 0.001) that suggests partial mediation. We estimated that ~44%, 38% and 20% of the total effect of work ability on the risk of depressive symptoms were mediated by total-WFCs, family-to-work conflict and work-to-family conflict, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions aiming for mitigation total-WFCs can help improve employees' mental health and reduce the risk of impaired work ability-related depression.
