The Relationship Between Anticipated Stigma and Work Functioning for Individuals With Depression

Although symptoms of depression are likely the greatest contributing factor to decreased productivity and work functioning, anticipated stigma may also have a direct and indirect impact on workplace functioning. Using a sample of veterans with a history of depression (N = 240) who were participating in a longitudinal study of work and family functioning, we used path analyses to test the direct and indirect relationships between anticipated stigma, depressive symptoms, and three work outcomes: absenteeism, presenteeism, and global work functioning. Anticipated stigma was directly associated with increased absenteeism and decreased global work functioning, and was indirectly associated with presenteeism and overall work functioning through the exacerbation of depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that anticipated stigma has important implications for work functioning. Consequently, employer efforts to improve the overall health and well-being of their employees should also include efforts to decrease the stigma of mental illness in the workplace.