Potential psychological mechanisms linking work stress and depressive symptoms among artisanal miners in Ghana

Despite growing recognition of mental health challenges in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), limited research has examined the pathways through which work stress (WS) contributes to depressive symptoms, particularly in low-resource, high-risk mining settings. This study investigated the association between WS and depressive symptoms among artisanal workers in Ghana and examined the mediating roles of emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted among 664 artisanal workers aged 18–60 years in Ghana. WS was assessed using a 4-item Job Stress Scale, and depressive symptoms were measured with the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety were measured using the MOS SF-36, the Perceived Stress Scale-4, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, respectively. Ordinary Least Squares regression models and bootstrapped mediation analyses were employed to estimate direct and indirect effects. The mean age of participants was 29.4 years (SD = 8.6), with 83.7% being male. After full adjustment for key covariates, WS was significantly associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms (B = 0.236, 95% CI = 0.149 to 0.322). The association was particularly evident among younger miners aged 18–35 years (B = 0.171, 95% CI = 0.064 to 0.277). Mediation analyses showed that emotional stress (~ 4%), perceived stress (~ 42%), and anxiety (~ 26%) partially mediated the association between WS and depressive symptoms. WS is significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms among mine workers in Ghana, with its effects largely explained through emotional distress, perceived stress, and anxiety. Mental health interventions targeting stress reduction and emotional regulation are urgently needed in informal mining settings, particularly for younger workers. Future studies are encouraged to clarify directionality.