Bilodeau J, Marchand A, Demers A. [Work, family, resources and unequal levels of psychological distress between working men and working women : vulnerability or gendered expression of stress?].
Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique 2021;
69:337-344. [PMID:
34393031 DOI:
10.1016/j.respe.2021.06.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
This study aims to compare the vulnerability hypothesis and the expression hypothesis to explain a greater level of psychological distress among working women than among working men.
METHOD
The two hypotheses were contrasted by integrating work stressors, family stressors, work-family conflicts and psychosocial resources. The conceptual models were tested by using multilevel path analyses on 2026 employees in Quebec (Canada) based in 63 work establishments.
RESULTS
Results partially supported both hypotheses. According to the vulnerability hypothesis, single parenting, child-related problems and self-esteem were indirectly involved in the variation of psychological distress among women through family-to-work, otherwise known as work-family conflict. According to the expression hypothesis, although family-to-work conflict was closely associated with more psychological distress among women, this stressor was also closely associated with higher at-risk alcohol consumption among men. Couple-related problems and a sense of control likewise played a role in the expression mechanism through family-to-work conflict.
CONCLUSION
These results underline the importance of considering that gender contributes to mental health inequalities through multiple mechanisms. They also call for a distinction between the two directions of work-family conflict as gendered mediators.
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