Quality of work life, depression and anxiety in administrative staff of an institution of higher education

Abstract

The aim of this analytical study was to analyze the relationship between the Quality of Work Life (QWL) and the presence of depression or anxiety symptoms in administrative employees of a public university in Mexico, with a probabilistic sample of 225 people. The CVT-GOHISALO and Goldberg’s depression and anxiety questionnaires were applied to the sample to measure their QWL and the presence of depression or anxiety symptoms. Only in one of the seven dimensions of CVT-GOHISALO instrument, the highest percentage of satisfaction was of high level. In all other dimensions the highest percentage of satisfaction was of low level. As for the presence of depression symptoms, 20.9 % of the employees had them and anxiety symptoms occurred in 59.1 %. In all dimensions, the higher satisfaction with the QWL and the absence of depression or anxiety symptoms were related, all crosses were statistically significant. High satisfaction with QWL, is a protective factor for not having depression or anxiety symptoms. The risk of developing depression or anxiety symptoms, is up two times higher for those with low satisfaction levels with their QWL than for those who have high satisfaction levels.