Work-life imbalance and mental health among male and female employees in Switzerland.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence and mental health effects of an unequal work-life balance (WLB) including potential gender differences.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of the Swiss employed population aged 20 to 64 (women: n = 1661; men: n = 1591).


RESULTS
Based on a single-item measure, more than every seventh employee in Switzerland indicated major difficulties combining work and private life. In certain socio-demographic categories, up to 30% showed such work-life conflict (WLC). For both genders, work-life imbalance turned out to be a risk factor affecting mental health. Employees with self-reported WLC presented a significantly higher relative risk for poor self-rated health (women: aOR = 2.6/men: aOR = 2.0), negative emotions and depression (aOR = 3.0/3.1), low energy and optimism (aOR = 2.1/1.6), fatigue (aOR = 2.4/2.6), and sleep disorders (aOR = 1.8/1.5) compared to employees with no WLC.


CONCLUSIONS
Internationally, few data on the prevalence of WLC exist. In Switzerland, work-life imbalance is not a marginal phenomenon among the workforce and needs to be addressed as a notable public and mental health issue.
Hämmig
Oliver
O
Division of Public and Organizational Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Organizational and Occupational Sciences, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland. ohaemmig@ethz.ch
Bauer
Georg
G
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013557:Switzerland; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult