Gender and psychological distress: contribution of work-family balance

Abstract Background Women suffer from psychological distress more often than men. Our aim was to investigate the potential contribution of work-family balance to this gender difference. Methods Questionnaire data from the nationally representative 2013 Finnish Regional Health and Well-being Study (target population all adults aged 20 years or over, n = 88 377, response rate 53%), was restricted in the current analysis to those who were working and who had minor children (n = 26 442). Psychological distress was assessed using the Mental Health Index (MHI-5, cut off value < =52). Participants answered six questions on balancing work and family demands (yes/no). We used logistic regression adjusted for age, education and marital status. Results Women reported more distress than men (12.4% and 10.2% respectively, p = 0.000). We found statistically significant interactions between gender and two work-family demands (both p = 0.010): “I sometimes neglect my family when I am wholly absorbed in my work” was associated with distress in women (OR = 1.29, 95%CI 1.11-1.49), but not in men (OR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.79-1.14). “I feel inadequacy as a parent” had stronger association with distress in men (OR = 3.07, 95%CI 2.56-3.69) than in women (OR = 2.31, 95%CI 2.00-2.65). Both men and women had less psychological distress if they reported stopping thinking about their work at home or having more energy to be with the children when they also went to work. Correspondingly, they had more psychological distress if they felt they were neglecting home issues because of work or found hard to concentrate on work because of home issues. Common-law marriage was associated with psychological distress in women (OR = 1.43, 95%CI 1.22-1.68), but not in men (OR = 1.11, 95%CI 0.91-1.36). Conclusions Women felt distress about neglecting family due to being absorbed in their work while men did not. Feelings of inadequacy as a parent were associated with distress more in men. Key messages Both women and men struggle to coordinate work and family, but expectations how job is divided may differ by gender. Actions to improve coordination between working life and family life are needed, both within families and by political decisions.