Perceived gender discrimination in the workplace and onset of depressive symptoms in women: A population-based longitudinal analysis in South Korea

Abstract

Background: Discrimination is a major cause of mental health problems; however, there is a limited understanding of the mental health consequences specifically associated with workplace gender discrimination (WGD). We explored the association between WGD and the onset of depressive symptoms among Korean female employees.

Methods: This study included 3536 female employees (6223 observations) who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Family (2014-2018). The respondents' perceptions of WGD were measured across six dimensions: hiring, promotion, wage, work assignments, training opportunities, and termination. The outcome was the onset of depressive symptoms after a 2-year follow-up assessed using the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale. To account for repeated measurements in each participant, we employed generalized estimating equations to estimate the risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Approximately 15-20% of female employees reported WGD across each dimension. The overall incidence rate of depressive symptoms during the study period was 9.6%. In the regression analysis, female employees who responded that they experienced WGD with respect to wages were more likely to develop depressive symptoms at follow-up (adjusted RR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.09-2.04). The other dimensions of WGD did not show a clear association with the onset of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion: WGD is an important risk factor for onset of depressive symptoms in women. Our study suggests that proactive policy interventions are required to promote gender equality in the workplace and protect mental well-being of female workers.