Socioeconomic and gender inequalities in job dissatisfaction among Japanese civil servants: the roles of work, family and personality characteristics

Job dissatisfaction as a risk factor of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among female workers: evidence from a nationwide longitudinal study in South Korea

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between job dissatisfaction (JD) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among female workers. Additionally, it examined how the cumulative exposure to JD over multiple years can exacerbate the effect. We conducted our analyses on a nationwide sample of 6111 female workers from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Family (Waves 5-7). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. JD was classified into quartiles (Q1-Q4), and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using generalised estimating equations. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among study participants was 13.9% and 2.4%, respectively. Our findings revealed that female workers with the highest level of JD (Q4) had a significantly greater risk of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI]: 1.61 [1.37-1.89]) and suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]: 2.08 [1.37-3.17]) after 2-year follow-up compared to those with the lowest level of JD (Q1). Consecutive exposure to JD over multiple years was also associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation after a 2-year follow-up. For instance, women exposed to JD for three consecutive waves exhibited a high risk of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI]: 1.61 [1.33-1.95]) and suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]: 1.67 [1.04-2.70]). JD was positively associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Our study suggests that JD is a risk factor for mental health problems in female workers.

Socioeconomic determinants of long sickness absence affected by work, family, and personal health-related characteristics: A longitudinal study of the Japanese civil servants

Objectives

Sickness absence is increasingly affecting society at different levels. This study explores how work, family, and personal health‐related characteristics will contribute to socioeconomic status (SES) differences in future long sickness absence (7 days or more) with respect to sex differences.

Methods

A total of 1562 civil servants worked for the Local Japanese government and were considered from 2003 to 2014 for this study. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine whether there were employment‐grade differences in long sickness absence after 11 years and whether such SES differences were associated with work, family, and personal health‐related characteristics or sexes.

Results

Male low‐grade employees had a significantly higher odds ratio (OR) for long sickness absence (age‐adjusted OR = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.04–2.95]). However, after adjustment for work characteristics, the association of significance disappeared (OR = 1.65, [0.96–2.84]). Female low‐grade employees had a significantly lower OR for long sickness absence after 11 years (OR = 0.26, [0.08–0.86]). Male employees working long hours and male and female employees in high job demand take less sickness absence. Meanwhile, male employees working short hours take longer sickness absence.

Conclusions

This study showed that male employees at low grades take longer sickness absence than those at high grades; however, this was alleviated by work characteristics. Female employees at low grades take less sickness absence than those at high grades. Japanese female employees with low grades, male employees with long working hours, and both sexes with high job demands take less sickness absence, although they may be unhealthy because of work stress.

The Role of Facets of Job Satisfaction in the National and Socioeconomic Differences in Overall Job Satisfaction: A Comparison Between Studies of Civil Servants in Great Britain and Japan

OBJECTIVE

To explore national and socioeconomic differences in overall job satisfaction, we examined whether those differences can be explained by what job-related factors.

METHODS

Our datasets for this study are from the Whitehall II study and the Japan Civil Servant Study. Of the participants who were 5540 cases, with 3250 people from Great Britain and 2290 from Japan.

RESULTS

The odds ratio for job dissatisfaction was more than double in Japan compared with Britain. However, after adjusting the related factors-especially the facets of job satisfaction variables-the difference was reversed. Also, regarding the occupational differences, lower occupational grades had lower risks of overall job dissatisfaction, after adjusting for related factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The national and socioeconomic differences in overall job satisfaction were strongly related to facets of job satisfaction rather than job stress factors.

The health effects of work-family conflict in men and women Japanese civil servants: a longitudinal study

High level of work-family conflict (WFC) is an important risk factor for stress-related health outcomes. However, many studies are cross-sectional studies. In this study, we aimed to clarify how changes in WFC levels over a period 5 yr can affect workers' mental and physical health, and to clarify whether there are gender differences of them. This study examined 1,808 civil servants (1,258 men and 550 women) aged 20-65 yr working in a local government in the west coast of Japan from 2003 to 2008. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether the change in WFC contributes to workers' health problems and whether there are gender differences. This study revealed association sustained high WFC and deterioration of WFC conflict with poor mental health and poor job satisfaction for both men and women. In men high WFC conflict and deterioration was associated with poor mental health (OR=2.74). On the other hand, women had strong relationship between WFC changes and poor physical health (OR=2.64). WFC was an important factor as a social determinant of health of Japanese civil servants, and the change in WFC affects subsequent health problems with different trends in men and women.

Work, family, and personal characteristics explain occupational and gender differences in work-family conflict among Japanese civil servants

OBJECTIVES

A high level of work-family conflict (WFC) is an important risk factor for physical and mental health problems. Although individual work-related factors for WFC have been extensively studied, relatively little is known about whether occupation and gender affect WFC and how such effects might be generated.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study surveyed 3053 civil servants aged 20-65 years working in a local government in the west coast of Japan in 2003. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether there are occupational and gender differences in WFC and to clarify the factors underlying these differences.

RESULTS

WFC was higher in professional and technical workers compared with other occupations for both men and women, with age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for these workers of 1.29 in men and 2.58 in women. In men, occupational differences in WFC disappeared after adjusting for work and family characteristics (OR = 1.15). In women, significant occupational differences remained in the final model, but after adjusting for work characteristics the adjusted OR for professional and technical workers was reduced to 1.69. Women were more likely than men to experience high WFC (OR = 2.52). After controlling for work characteristics, the gender difference was considerably reduced (OR = 1.68).

CONCLUSIONS

Work characteristics play a fundamental role in the difference in WFC between not only occupational but also gender differences. Stressful work characteristics among professional and technical workers and among women in all work roles should be addressed to reduce occupational and gender differences in WFC in Japan.