The prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is higher in those with the unemployed and those with low social status. Most of the available data comes from studies in developed countries, and these findings may not extrapolate to developing countries. However, the extent of unemployed status cause MDD is unclear. This study seeks to determine whether depressive disorder is associated with unemployment and to further investigate the relationship between occupation, and social class in Han Chinese women with MDD.

Data came from Oxford and VCU Experimental Research on Genetic Epidemiology (CONVERGE) study of MDD (6017 cases, age between 30 and 60; 5983 controls, age between 40 and 60). DSM-IV depressive and anxiety disorders were assessed using the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview. All subjects were interviewed using a computerized assessment system. All interviewers were trained by the CONVERGE team for a minimum of one week. The interview includes assessment of psychopathology, demographic and personal characteristics, and psychosocial functioning.

The odds ratio (OR) between employment and MDD is 0.69. An OR of less than one is protective. Lower social class is not associated with an increase in the number of episodes, or with increased rates of comorbidity with anxiety disorders.

This study suggests that in Han Chinese women, employment is positive protect factor to MDD. Lower social status and unemployment increases the risk and severity of MDD. In China, lower socioeconomic position is associated with increased rates of MDD, as it is elsewhere in the world.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.