[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55265-55266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21877]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[60Day-02-69]


Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and 
Recommendations

    In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on 
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. 
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a 
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports 
Clearance Officer on (404) 639-7090.
    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology. Send comments to Anne O'Connor, CDC 
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24, 
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days 
of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Work Organization Predictors of Depression in Women--NEW--The 
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background

    Depression is a costly and debilitating occupational health 
problem. Research has indicated that the costs to an organization of 
treatment for depression can rival those for heart disease, and both 
major depressive disorder and forms of minor depression have been found 
to be associated with more disability days than other types of health 
diagnoses. This may be of particular relevance for working women. 
Various national and international studies indicate that women in 
developed countries experience depression at up to twice the rate of 
men. Studies that have examined this gender difference have focused on 
social, personality, and genetic explanations while few have explored 
factors in the workplace that may contribute to the gender 
differential. Examples of workplace factors that may contribute to 
depression among women include: additive workplace and home 
responsibilities, lack of control and authority, and low paying and low 
status jobs. Additionally, women are much more likely to face various 
types of discrimination in the workplace than men, ranging from 
harassment to inequalities in hiring and promotional opportunities, and 
these types of stressors have been strongly linked with psychological 
distress and other negative health outcomes. On the positive side, 
organizations that are judged by their employees to value diversity and 
employee development engender lower levels of employee stress, and 
those that enforce policies against discrimination have more committed 
employees. Such organizational practices and policies may be beneficial 
for employee mental health, particularly the mental health of women.
    This research will focus on the following questions: (1) Which work 
organization factors are most predictive of depression in women, and 
(2) are there measurable work organization factors that confer 
protection against depression in women employees.
    The research will use a repeated measures, prospective design with 
data collection at three points (baseline and 1-year and 2-year follow-
ups). A 30-40 minute survey will be administered by

[[Page 55266]]

telephone to 2500-3000 newly employed women and men at 25 or more 
different organizations. The survey will contain questions about: (1) 
Traditional job stressors (e.g., changes in workload, social support, 
work roles); (2) stressors not traditionally examined, but may be 
linked with depressive symptoms among women (e.g., roles and 
responsibilities outside of the workplace, discrimination, career 
issues); (3) depression symptoms; and (4) company policies, programs, 
and practices. One Human Resource (HR) representative at each company 
will also be surveyed about company policies, programs and practices. 
Analyses will determine which work organization factors are linked with 
depressive symptoms and what effect the organizational practices/
policies of interest have on depression. Findings from this prospective 
study will also help target future intervention efforts to reduce 
occupationally-related depression in women workers. There is no cost to 
respondents.

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                                                                      No. of        Avg. burden
                   Respondents                        No. of        responses/     response  (in   Total burden
                                                    respondents     respondent        hours)        (in hours)
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Employees.......................................            3000               3           40/60            6000
HR Representative...............................              30               3           20/60              30
    Total.......................................                                                            6030
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    Dated: August 21, 2002.
Nancy E. Cheal,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-21877 Filed 8-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P