Emotional demands and depression: The buffering role of positive work‐related factors in clinical veterinary practice

Background Emotional demands are high in the veterinary profession. In this study, we examine whether positive factors buffer (i.e., weaken) the association between emotional demands and depression among veterinary employees. Methods We surveyed psychosocial working conditions and depression in a population of 885 employees in clinical veterinary practice. The data were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Results An increased risk of depression was found for participants reporting high emotional demands (odds ratio [OR] 4.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.68‒6.60). Participants reporting high emotional demands in combination with low levels of meaning at work (OR 5.08; 95% CI 2.64‒9.79), cooperation with their immediate supervisor (OR 4.09; 95% CI 2.27‒6.45), influence at work (OR 3.69; 95% CI 2.11‒6.45) and cooperation between colleagues (OR 3.85; 95% CI 2.04‒7.28) had an increased risk of depression compared to participants reporting high emotional demands in combination with high levels of the above‐mentioned factors. A statistically significant buffering effect for the combination of high emotional demands and high meaning at work was observed (relative excess risk due to interaction ‒3.35; 95% CI ‒6.40 to ‒0.30). Limitation This was a cross‐sectional study, meaning that causal associations between the variables cannot be established. Conclusions High levels of meaning at work buffered the association between emotional demands and the risk of depression in the study population. Positive work‐related factors are important for promoting wellbeing among employees in clinical veterinary practice.