[Home-making responsibilities and health of working women].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the relationship between the distribution of home-making responsibilities and perceived mental and physical health in working women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 1994 and October 1995, in Caracas, Venezuela. A total of 260 university teachers were surveyed on home-making management and activities. Statistical analysis consisted of central tendency measures, analysis of variance and hierarchical multiple regression.


RESULTS
Considering the distribution of home-making responsibilities, it was found that women participated more in home-making management and planning and that they received support from their partner in those tasks related to home-making. Those women who perceived higher overload in home-tasks reported also higher levels of anxiety, depression and a lower self-esteem.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate the negative effects of household labor on mental health in working women.
Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central, Caracas, Venezuela.
G
G
Blanco
L
L
Feldman
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006796:Household Work; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014687:Venezuela; D016387:Women's Health; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology