The double burden of and negative spillover between paid and domestic work: associations with health among men and women.
The objective of the study was to determine whether the double burden of and negative spillover between domestic and full-time paid work are associated with an increase in health problems. Survey responses were linked with sickness absence records in a cross-sectional study of 6442 full-time municipal employees. Women and men experiencing severe work-family spillover had a 1.5-1.6 (95% confidence intervals 1.1 to 2.0) times higher rate of sickness absence than those with no such experience. The corresponding odds ratios for psychological distress and suboptimal self-assessed health varied between 3.6 and 6.5 (2.3 to 11.0). Among the women, severe family-work spillover increased the risk of psychological distress and suboptimal health [odds ratios 2.0 (1.4 to 2.9) and 1.6 (1.1 to 2.3), respectively], and accumulated sole responsibilities were associated with a 1.5 (1.1 to 2.1) times higher odds ratio for psychological distress. Long domestic work hours (>50/week) were associated with a 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) times higher rate of sickness absence among the men, but there was no such increase among the women. We conclude that negative work-family spillover especially is associated with health problems among both women and men, and negative family-work spillover is related to a poorer health status among women.
Väänänen
Ari
A
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Department of Psychology, Topeliuksenkatu 41 A, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland. Ari.Vaananen@ttl.fi
Kevin
May V
MV
Ala-Mursula
Leena
L
Pentti
Jaana
J
Kivimäki
Mika
M
Vahtera
Jussi
J
D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*