Work and mental health: A decade in Canadian research

This study reviews recent research on mental health within the context of work.The research is based on work during the past decade since the publication of the special issue of the Canadian Psychologist on I-O Psychology in 1988. Our focus will be on research based on Canadian data, done by Canadian scholars, during this 10-year period. Our approach to mental health is inclusive: We examine both theoretical and empirical work pertaining to stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, and well-being. Existing models linking the antecedents and consequences of mental health are reviewed and proposed moderators are assessed, with a view toward ascertaining their empirical viability and theoretical utility. The antecedents of mental health include a broad array of individual differences,job, work, and organizational variables. Similarly, the consequences of mental health cover a broad range of attitudinal and behavioral factors such as job involvement, job.satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, performance, absence, turnover, and somatic and physical ailments. After a critical assessment of the nature and quality of the research, we discuss its implications for future research and offer suggestions for the management of mental health in the workplace.