Association between work-family conflict and depressive symptoms in female workers: An exploration of potential moderators

Investigating the association between work family conflict (WFC) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in an Australian community-based cohort study

PURPOSE

Difficulties managing work and family demands are common and have been found to be associated with stress and poor mental health. However, very few studies have examined Work Family Conflict (WFC) in connection with diagnosable anxiety disorders (and none with Australian representative data). The current study investigated whether high WFC was significantly associated with a diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) after controlling for a broad range of socio-demographic contextual factors, related psychosocial job, family and individual characteristics, and prior anxiety symptom history.

METHODS

Data was analysed from an Australian population-based community cohort - the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life project. Eligible participants (N = 1159) were employed full-time or part-time, with data collected by both online questionnaire and face-to-face interview. Presence of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in the past 12-months was diagnosed by the GAD module in the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) (based on DSM-IV criteria) and severe anxiety symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) 7-item 'other anxiety' model.

RESULTS

The findings consistently showed that those experiencing high WFC had higher odds of a GAD diagnosis (final adjusted model: CIDI: OR: 2.55, CI: 1.38-4.70) as well as clinical levels of anxiety symptoms (PHQ: OR:2.61, CI:1.44,4.72). This was the case after controlling for an extensive range of covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

This is one of the first studies to show that WFC is associated with greater likelihood of GAD. The challenge of juggling both work and family can have far-reaching impacts - not just increasing distress broadly, but also potentially increasing the likelihood of clinically diagnosable anxiety.

Global, regional, and national burden of major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder attributed to childhood sexual abuse in 204 countries and territories, 1999-2019: An analysis for the global burden of disease study 2019

AIM

This study aims to elucidate the impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on major depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) globally, regionally, and nationally, informing targeted public health interventions and policy.

METHODS

Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019, we assessed the impact of CSA on MDD and AUD, analyzing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 population. Our analysis included age, sex, geographic locations, temporal trends in age-standardized rates (ASR), and examined the relationship between the social development index (SDI) and the burden of these disorders.

RESULTS

From 1990 to 2019, the global ASR for MDD attributable to CSA increased by 1.9 %, while AUD decreased by 17.1 %. Significant gender disparities emerged, with females showing higher ASRs for MDD and males for AUD. The highest burden was observed in the 35-44 age group. Geographical analysis revealed the highest ASRs for MDD in Sub-Saharan Africa and for AUD in Eastern Europe, Central Europe, and High-income North America. A U-shaped relationship between SDI and disorder burdens was also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a slight increase in MDD and a significant decrease in AUD burdens globally due to CSA, underscoring the need for targeted interventions considering gender, geographical, and developmental differences. This calls for strategies tailored to each country's unique development, culture, and regional specifics.

Examination of factors related to problem drinking among the working population: The Japanese civil servants study

Problem drinking affects not only the health of a population but also the productivity of a nation, especially if it is rampant among the working population. This study examines the association between problem drinking and work characteristics, work-family status, and social situations among the Japanese working population. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed on the basis of gender on 3136 participants (men: 65.1%, women: 34.9%) adopted from the Japanese Civil Servants Study in 2014 (response rate: 87.8%), to examine the factors related to problem drinking, after adjusting for frequency and quantity of drinking. Problem drinking was assessed using the Cutdown, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire. The presence of problem drinking was found in 24.3% of men and 10.3% of women. The analysis showed that in men, poor work performance (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.00-1.79), high family-to-work conflict (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.14-2.09), and high work-to-family conflict (OR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.14-2.34) were significantly associated with problem drinking, whereas in women, high work-to-family conflict (OR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.21-4.95) was significantly associated with problem drinking. Although the number of close friends is negatively associated with problem drinking in women, the significance disappeared in the fully adjusted model. It can be concluded that it is important for both men and women to strike a balance between work and family life. Moreover, owing to gender differences, work performance may be important for men, and the presence of close friends may be important for women, in reducing the risk of problem drinking.

Investigating the association between Work Family Conflicts (WFC) and suicidal ideation in an Australian community-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Suicidal ideation, a significant public health issue, necessitates further investigation of its correlates and precursors. Extensive research highlights the association between Work Family Conflicts (WFC) and psychological distress, including depression. However, research examining the correlation between high WFC experiences and suicidal ideation is sparse. This study explores the association between WFC and suicidal ideation within an occupation non-specific community sample.

METHODS

Community-based, representative data from the Australian-based Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life project formed the basis of this study. Participants eligible for the study (N = 1312) were employed either full-time or part-time and took part in an online questionnaire. Importantly, the data include robust measures of WFC, active suicidal ideation, and depression.

RESULTS

After adjusting for psychosocial job characteristics, history of suicidal ideation, and other socio-demographic factors, high WFC was associated with increased odds of active suicidal ideation (Model 4: OR: 1.58, CI: 1.04-2.40). Further, supplementary analyses indicated that depression is an important component of this relationship. Analyses exploring an interaction effect by gender showed that while a significant association between high WFC and suicidality was observed among men after adjustment for all covariates, this association was not evident for women.

LIMITATIONS

A small number of participants reported suicidal ideation, potentially affecting the statistical power to detect significant effects. WFC was measured at one time-point, prohibiting the exploration of its causal and/or chronic impact on suicidal ideation.

CONCLUSION

We find evidence that high WFC is linked to increased active suicidal ideation - specifically for men.

Neighborhood Safety Concerns and the Onset of Depressive Symptoms Among Women: A Population-based Prospective Cohort Study in South Korea

Neighborhood safety is crucial for the well-being of residents; however, longitudinal evidence is scarce. This study explored the association between neighborhood safety concerns and depressive symptoms among women. A nationally representative sample of 10,008 women was surveyed in 2016. Six dimensions of neighborhood safety concerns were assessed: crime, food, safety at night, traffic accidents, building and facility, and general safety. The total score for neighborhood safety concerns ranged from 6 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater concerns. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression. For cross-sectional analyses, we explored how neighborhood safety concerns were associated with concurrent depressive symptoms at baseline. For the longitudinal analyses, we explored how they were associated with depressive symptom onset at the 2-year follow-up (2018) among women without depressive symptoms at baseline (n = 7,643). Logistic regressions were employed. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) of the neighborhood safety concern score was 12.7 (3.3). In the cross-sectional analysis, a 1-SD increase in neighborhood safety concern score was associated with 1.23-fold (95% CI: 1.13-1.35) increase in the odds of concurrent depressive symptoms at the baseline year. In the longitudinal analysis, a 1-SD increase in neighborhood safety concern score was associated with 1.15-fold (95% CI: 1.03-1.29) increase in the odds of experiencing the onset of depressive symptoms at the follow-up year. This study suggests that neighborhood safety concerns are risk factors for the development of depressive symptoms of female residents. Policy efforts are necessary to ensure community safety.

The Influence of Workplace Violence, Psychosocial Working Conditions on Depressive Symptoms Among Female Workers in South Korea

Workers' depression is an important issue, with the prevalence higher in women than in men. This study aimed to identify the effects of workplace violence exposure and psychosocial working conditions on depressive symptoms in female workers in South Korea. This study included 15 605 female wageworkers who participated in the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Logistic regression analyses were implemented to identify the factors that affected their depression. The female workers reported increased frequency of symptoms of depression when there was humiliating behavior from co-workers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.999) or physical violence from clients (aOR = 1.609). In psychosocial working environments, they reported a greater frequency of depressive symptoms with high quantitative demands (aOR = 1.498), high emotional demands (aOR = 1.085), lower colleague's support (aOR = 1.566), or lack of support from supervisors at the workplace (aOR = 1.707). An emphasis should be put on preventing humiliating behaviors from co-workers as well as violence from clients in the workplace.

Association between long working hours and the development of suicidal ideation among female workers: An 8-year population-based study using the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Family (2012-2020)

Long working hours and overwork have recently emerged as pressing public health concerns. We explored the association between long working hours and suicidal ideation in female workers. A total of 8017 women (24,331 observations) from the fourth to eighth waves of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2012-2020) were analyzed. To address the repeated measurements within each participant, we employed a generalized estimating equation to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.9% for those working 35-40 h/week and 4.4% for those working ≥55 h/week. Compared to individuals working 35-40 h/week, those working ≥55 h/week were more likely to experience concurrent suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]:1.85 [1.43-2.39]). The OR (95% CI) of the association between long working hours and onset of suicidal ideation in the subsequent wave was 1.69 (1.20-2.38) for ≥55 h/week. In subgroup analysis, this association was pronounced among workers with low-income levels (OR [95% CI]: 1.97 [1.29-3.02]) and blue-collar occupations (OR [95% CI]: 2.27 [1.41-3.66]). Policy efforts are required to protect the mental health of female workers exposed to long working hours.

Double jeopardy: Exploring the moderating effect of educational mismatch in the relationship between work-family conflict and depressive symptoms among Korean working women

RATIONALE

Despite a growing body of empirical evidence on the detrimental effects of work-family conflict (WFC) on psychological health, little attention has been given to whether educational mismatch in the workplace, which refers to the perceived level of match between one's attained education and the required educational level for a position, may exacerbate these effects.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between WFC, educational mismatch, and depressive symptoms in Korean working women, with a particular focus on the potential moderating effects of educational mismatch on the association between WFC and depressive symptoms.

METHODS

The data utilized for this study were collected from 5174 married working women over five waves (16,610 person-observations) of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families spanning 8 years between 2012 and 2020. Fixed effects (FE) models were estimated to account for unobserved individual-level heterogeneity.

RESULTS

FE estimates indicated that WFC is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, even after accounting for unobserved confounding factors and time-varying covariates. The interaction model provides evidence for the moderating role of educational mismatch in the association between WFC and depressive symptoms. The positive association between WFC and depressive symptoms was more pronounced among those who perceive themselves as "overeducated." The estimated coefficient for the association was about 45% larger for those who perceive themselves as "overeducated" than their "well-matched" counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The study's findings suggest a robust link between WFC and depressive symptoms and further elaborate on how this association varies depending on educational mismatch. In Korea, where conservative gender role norms of female-caregiver ideology are still prevalent, WFC and educational mismatch can act as double jeopardy, exacerbating the mental health of working women.

Influence of job demands on implicit absenteeism in Chinese nurses: mediating effects of work-family conflict and job embeddedness

Purpose

It has been widely noted that implicit absenteeism is common among nurses, with job demand influencing it. Theoretically, work-family conflict and job embeddedness may help link job demands to implicit absenteeism. However, the mediating effects of the two on the association between job demands and implicit absenteeism remain unclear. Thus, this study aims to explore the association between nurses' job demands and implicit absenteeism, and the chain mediating effect of work-family conflict and job embeddedness in this relationship.

Patients and methods

Data were collected from 1,420 nurses from five tertiary public hospitals in China. They were asked to respond to a questionnaire asking about job demands, implicit absenteeism, work-family conflict, and job embeddedness. The data were coded and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0. Descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, hierarchical multiple regression analysis, and bootstrapping were used to analyze the extracted data.

Results

The mean score for implicit absenteeism was 17.75 ± 5.60. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between nurses' job demands, work-family conflict, job embeddedness, and implicit absenteeism. Nurses' job demands directly influenced implicit absenteeism and indirectly influenced implicit absenteeism through the mediating effects of work-family conflict and job embeddedness. Furthermore, work-family conflict and job embeddedness have a chain effect on the association between job demands and implicit absenteeism.

Conclusion

The study found that nurses' job demands directly and positively influence implicit absenteeism, and indirectly influence implicit absenteeism through single and chain mediating effects of work-family conflict and job embeddedness.

Mediating Effect of Work-Family Conflict on the Relationship Between Long Commuting Time and Workers' Anxiety and Insomnia

Background

Our study aimed to investigate the mediating role of work-family conflict (WFC) on the relationship between long commutes and workers' anxiety and insomnia.

Methods

Our study measured the two dimensions of WFC, time-related, and strain-related, which were considered multiple mediators. The mediating effect of WFC on anxiety and insomnia was investigated by decomposing the total effect into a direct effect (long commuting time → anxiety or insomnia) and an indirect effect (long commuting time → WFC → anxiety or insomnia). The combined indirect effect (joint indirect effect) of strain-related WFC and time-related WFC was estimated. The effects were presented as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The direct effect of 120 min or longer of commuting time was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.17-1.65) times increase in the odds of anxiety and 1.64 (95% CI: 1.41-1.90) times increase in the odds of insomnia than those whose commuting time was less than 60 min. In the case of indirect effects, those whose commuting time was 120 min or longer had 1.13 times higher odds of anxiety (95% CI: 1.07-1.18) and 1.12 times higher odds of insomnia (95% CI: 1.07-1.17) via WFC. The joint indirect effects accounted for 26.4% and 18.5% of the total effect on anxiety and insomnia, respectively. The longer the commuting time, the stronger both direct and indirect effects.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the mediating effect of WFC on the relationship between long commuting times and workers' anxiety and insomnia.

Internal Structure of the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire (WFCQ) in Teacher Teleworking

The interference between family and work roles has led to the development of scales for their measurement. However, instrumental studies of work-family conflict have not been conducted in the context of teacher teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, the objectives of this study were set to obtain evidence of the internal structure and fairness of the Blanch and Aluja Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire, as well as its association with job satisfaction and other sociodemographic variables. A total of 235 Peruvian school teachers between the ages of 24 and 72 years (M = 43.79 and SD = 9.67) responded to the scale using the online form. The analysis employed the non-parametric item response theory modeling (Mokken scaling analysis). The structure of two correlated factors was confirmed: work conflict in the family (WCF) and family conflict in the work (FCW). Both dimensions were invariant with respect to sex group and educational level. The association of both dimensions with job satisfaction was theoretically convergent, and the gender of the teachers slightly moderated this relationship. The reliability was adequate for group research. Finally, the instrument can be useful in the organizational context of teachers who telework.

Work-Family Conflict and Depressive Symptoms of Married Working Women in Korea: The Role of Marriage Satisfaction and Organizational Gender Discrimination Climate

Introduction

Depression is increasing worldwide. Some previous studies have explored the impact of work-family conflict on depressive symptoms of married working women. However, little is known about the moderating relationship underlying them.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the moderating effects of marriage satisfaction and organizational gender discrimination climate in the relationship between work-family conflict and depressive symptoms of married working women in Korea.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using the data of the 8th Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (KLoWF). The data of 1,816 married working women employed and paid by an individual or an enterprise were analyzed.

Results

The work-family conflict had a significant effect on depressive symptoms of married working women. In the dynamics between work-family conflict and depressive symptoms, no significant moderating effect of marriage satisfaction was found. On the contrary, the organizational gender discrimination climate displayed a moderating effect on the relationship between work-family conflict and depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Nursing strategies in the workplace or community are needed so that married working women can cope positively and actively between work-family conflicts and maintain healthy mental health. To this end, gender role awareness education should be prioritized to improve awareness of gender discrimination in the workplace. In addition, nursing interventions such as linking local or government support and information delivery should be provided so that married working women can be consulted about situations related to work-family conflicts or gender discrimination climate.