Work-family conflict and self-rated health among dwellers in Minia, Egypt: Financial strain vs social support

Work and Family Conflicts, Depression, and "Ikigai": A Mediation Analysis in a Cross-cultural Study Between Japanese and Egyptian Civil Workers

BACKGROUND

Total work-family conflicts (TWFCs) could associate with mental health, and having ikigai (a purpose of life) may mediate this association.

METHODS

In a cross-cultural study of 4,792 Japanese Aichi Workers' Cohort study participants and 3,109 Egyptian civil workers, the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) questionnaire measured TWFCs and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) 11-item scale measured depression. We used logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of having depression and a high-ikigai across levels of TWFCs (low, moderate, and high), and the PROCESS macro of Hayes to test the mediation effect.

RESULTS

The prevalence of high TWFCs, depression, and having a high ikigai were 17.9%, 39.4%, and 70.1% in Japanese women, 10.5%, 26.8%, and 70.1% in Japanese men, 23.7%, 58.2%, and 24.7% in Egyptian women, and 19.1%, 38.9%, and 36.9% in Egyptian men, respectively. Compared with participants with low TWFCs, the multivariable ORs of depression in Japanese women and men with high TWFCs were 4.11 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.99-5.65) and 5.42 (95% CI, 4.18-7.02), and those in Egyptian women and men were 4.43 (95% CI, 3.30-5.95) and 4.79 (95% CI, 3.53-6.48), respectively. The respective ORs of having a high-ikigai were 0.46 (95% CI, 0.33-0.64) and 0.40 (95% CI, 0.31-0.52) in Japanese women and men and were 0.34 (95% CI, 0.24-0.48) and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.20-0.39) in Egyptian women and men. No interaction between TWFCs and country was observed for the associations with depression or ikigai. Ikigai mediated (up to 18%) the associations between the TWFCs and depression, especially in Egyptian civil workers.

CONCLUSION

TWFCs were associated with depression, and having low ikigai mediated these associations in Japanese and Egyptian civil workers.

Work-family imbalance, social support and health: a population-based study

BACKGROUND

Work-family imbalance is a crucial determinant of workers' health. Studies examining the impact of multiple roles in the workplace, conducted in low- and middle-income countries, are limited.

AIMS

To determine the association of work-family imbalance with self-perceived health (SPH) both in men and women, and to examine the interaction of social support with work-family imbalance on this association in a district in western Turkey.

METHODS

This population-based cross-sectional study's sample was randomly derived from working residents aged 30-64 living in Balcova District, Turkey. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted for the associations between SPH, social support at home and at work, work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC). Social support variables were considered as possible effect modifiers.

RESULTS

Work to family variables had an independent, significant association with poor SPH [odds ratio (OR) = 2.92 (95% CI 1.47-5.78) for WFC, and 2.38 (95% CI 1.22-4.67) for FWC] in only women. In advanced analyses, both social support at work and at home were effect modifiers of the association between FWC and SPH in women (P < 0.001). In men, SPH was significantly associated only with job insecurity [OR = 2.52 (1.22-5.21)].

CONCLUSIONS

Further studies should be conducted to implement effective population prevention strategies to establish work-family balance and to reduce this double burden on women, specifically in low- and middle-income countries.

A comparative study of the work-family conflicts prevalence, their sociodemographic, family, and work attributes, and their relation to the self-reported health status in Japanese and Egyptian civil workers

Background

Cross-cultural studies studying work-family conflicts (W_F_Cs) are scarce. We compared the prevalence of W_F_Cs, factors correlated with them, and their association with self-rated health between Japan and Egypt.

Methods

Among 4862 Japanese and 3111 Egyptian civil workers recruited by a convenience sample in 2018/2019 and reported self-rated health status, we assessed the W_F_Cs by the Midlife Development in the US (MIDUS) and attributed them to sociodemographic, family, and work variables. We also evaluated the W_F_Cs’ gender- and country-specific associations with self-rated health by logistic regression analyses.

Results

W_F_Cs were more prevalent in Egyptian than in Japanese women (23.7% vs. 18.2%) and men (19.1% vs. 10.5%), while poor self-rated health was more prevalent in Japanese than Egyptians (19.3% and 17.3% vs. 16.9% and 5.5%). Longer working hours, shift work, and overtime work were positively associated with stronger work-to-family conflict (WFC). Whereas being single was inversely associated with stronger family-to-work conflict (FWC). Living with children, fathers, or alone in Japan while education in Egypt was associated with these conflicts. The OR (95% CI) for poor self-reported health among those with the strong, in reference to weak total W_F_Cs, was 4.28 (2.91–6.30) and 6.01 (4.50–8.01) in Japanese women and men and was 2.46 (1.75–3.47) and 3.11 (1.67–5.80) in Egyptian women and men.

Conclusions

Japanese and Egyptian civil workers have different prevalence and correlated factors of W_F_Cs and self-rated health. W_F_Cs were associated in a dose–response pattern with poor-self-rated health of civil workers in both countries.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13924-0.

The mediating role of work-family conflicts in the association between work ability and depression among Egyptian civil workers

BACKGROUND

Work ability and work-family conflicts (total-WFCs) were associated with the risk of depression among the working population.

METHODS

We recruited 3104 Egyptian civil workers between October 2019 and January 2020. The Work Ability Index (WAI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) and Midlife Development in the United States questionnaires were used to collect the data. Following Baron and Kenny criteria, the mediation effect of total-WFCs on the association between WAI and CES-D scores was tested by multivariable linear regression models.

RESULTS

Findings revealed a high prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) among Egyptian civil servants (43.4%). There were negative relationships between WAI score and both CES-D score (B = -0.70, P < 0.001) and total-WFCs score (B = -0.22, P < 0.001). Moreover, WAI score was still significantly associated with CES-D score after controlling for total-WFCs score (B = -0.40, P < 0.001) that suggests partial mediation. We estimated that ~44%, 38% and 20% of the total effect of work ability on the risk of depressive symptoms were mediated by total-WFCs, family-to-work conflict and work-to-family conflict, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions aiming for mitigation total-WFCs can help improve employees' mental health and reduce the risk of impaired work ability-related depression.

Antecedents of work-family conflict among Egyptian civil workers

AIM

Previous studies have suggested variable levels of associations between work-family conflict (W_F_C) and its antecedents in different populations. We aimed to assess the antecedents of this conflict and its two types; work-to-family (WFC) and family-to-work (FWC) among Egyptian civil workers.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

In a convenience sample of 3134 Egyptian civil workers, we assessed the W_F_C using the National Study of Midlife Development in the US and attributed it, by logistic and linear regression analyses, to several sociodemographic, work/family situational, behavioral, and health-related variables which were collected by a questionnaire survey between October 2019 and January 2020.

RESULTS

W_F_C was prevalent in 56% of the sample (51% for WFC and 62% for FWC). The work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the W_F_C and its two types; partial R 2 was 0.71. Both the health-related and behavioral clusters of antecedents were also predictors of W_F_C, while the sociodemographic antecedents contributed minimally to the FWC. The multivariable odds ratios (95% CIs) for high W_F_C in those with high vs low work demands, job control, social support at work, and family were 4.11 (2.89-7.03), 0.0 (0.66-0.90), 0.86 (0.62-0.98), and 0.74 (0.59-0.94), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Work and family situational factors were the most significant antecedents of the levels of W_F_C in Egyptian civil workers. The Egyptian authorities could reduce the civil workers' W_F_C by improving the work environment, finding ways to relieve the workload demands, and helping the civil workers to have more job control and social support.

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-health-personal life conflicts in naive patients with chronic hepatitis B receiving initial treatment in China: a qualitative study

OBJECTIVES

People with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) perform sick roles, work roles and personal roles simultaneously. At times, role conflicts arise because of failure to meet the expectations of different roles. Role conflicts may increase dissatisfaction in work and family and impair their physical and mental health. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of role conflicts of treatment-naive patients with CHB in work, personal and sick roles, together with ameliorating factors in the Chinese cultural context.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study. Semistructured interviews were used to collect the experience of work-health-personal life conflicts (WHPLCs), and a brief questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical information. SPSS V.21.0 was used for descriptive analysis and Dedoose (V.7.5.9) was used to code and analyse interview transcripts. This study selected six cities with different socioeconomic levels in Zhejiang Province, China. Then, researchers chose one tertiary hospital from each city as the study site, so a total of six tertiary hospitals were involved.

PARTICIPANTS

We recruited 32 patients with CHB (59.38% male) who had just started antiviral therapy for no more than three months. Participants were within the age range of 19-57 years, and the average age was 36.03 (SD=9.56) years.

RESULTS

Participants noted that having CHB influenced their daily life and intersected with work and personal roles, therefore causing role conflicts. Role conflicts focused on three types: time-based conflicts, strain-based conflicts and behaviour-based conflicts. The contextual factors contributing to role conflicts were identified, including personal characteristics, financial strain, traditional social roles and work environment.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings enhance our understanding of the WHPLCs experience of treatment-naive patients with CHB in China. Our findings suggest that multidimensional role conflicts should be taken into account in the intervention design and psychological counselling to improve role balance and well-being among patients with CHB.

Work-Family Conflict among Iranian Emergency Medical Technicians and Its Relationship with Time Management Skills: A Descriptive Study

Background

Work-Family Conflict (WFC) is a form of interrole conflict in which an active participation in occupational activities causes strain and interferes with family roles of workers and vice versa. It is a major source of occupational stress among workers and personnel. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are an important part of the healthcare system that respond to emergencies. The EMTs experience high level of job stress, which may affect their ability to perform their family roles, and, on the other hand, actively performing their family responsibilities may interfere with the effective delivery of the already stressful activities at workplace.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of WFC among Emergency Medical Technicians in Iran and its relationship with time management skills.

Methods

This was a descriptive study. In this study, 271 EMTs from the western part of Iran completed the questionnaire for the assessment of WFC. The Carlson Family-Conflict Questionnaire and the “Time Management Behaviors Scale” developed by Macan were used as evaluation instruments. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Appropriate statistical analysis such as mean and standard deviation, Pearson correlation, and Spearman rank correlation was applied for analyzing the data in SPSS.

Results

The majority of the participants reported some degrees of WFC. Statistical analysis showed a significant inverse correlation between total WFC score and total “Time Management Behaviors scale” score (r = −0/381، p < 0/0001). In the present study, there was no significant correlation between total WFC score and demographic factors such as educational level, age, sex, marital status, number of family members, need for family member care, and work experience (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicate that time management behaviors and skills can reduce WFC among Emergency Medical Technicians. Therefore, it is recommended that prehospital emergency authorities and policymakers plan and implement measures such as reducing the duration of shift-work schedules, decreasing shift-change restrictions, and organizing regular time management courses. Also, employment of local inhabitants is preferred to geographically distant individuals with similar qualification as this will reduce the distance between home and workplace.

Work-to-family conflict rather than family-to-work conflict is more strongly associated with sleep disorders in Upper Egypt

An important factor for which work and family compete is time. Due to lack of evidence, I investigated the associations between work-family conflict (assessed by the National Study of Midlife Development in the US) and sleep disorders (assessed by the Jenkins Sleep Questionnaire) in a cross-sectional study included 1,021 Egyptians aged 18-59 yr. Both work-to-family conflict (WFC) and family-to-work conflict (FWC) were associated with reduced sleep quantity. Moreover, high WFC was associated with sleep disorders; the multivariable ORs (95% CIs) were 2.32 (1.63-3.30) in high versus low WFC, 1.09 (0.79-1.49) in high versus low FWC and 2.41 (1.52-3.83) in high both WFC and FWC vs. low both WFC and FWC. Waking up too early with inability to fall asleep again and waking up tired after the usual amount of sleep were the most common sleep disturbances with high WFC; while insignificant increased risks for waking up several times per night and waking up tired after the usual amount of sleep were observed with high FWC. The study findings suggest the need for occupational and social health promotion programs to help men and women in labor force reach a balanced interaction between work and family life in order to reduce sleep complaints.

Do demographic factors and a health-promoting lifestyle influence the self-rated health of college nursing students?

Background

To adopt a healthy lifestyle is considered an essential component of nursing education. Self-rated health is a subjective assessment of health status and is consistent with objective health status. Previous studies have shown an association between self-rated health and engagement in a healthy lifestyle. Nursing students need to feel good about their subjective health status and to be able to adopt health improvements in their lifestyle before attempting to disseminate health messages to clients. The aims of this study were to compare the difference in self-rated health and health promotion lifestyle profile between senior and junior nursing students, describe correlations between self-rated health and health promotion lifestyle profile, and identify the predictors of self-rated health.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive survey was adopted. The study sample consisted of 314 junior and senior year nursing students from a tertiary institution. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of a single-item question to examine their self-rated health. The Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II: Chinese version short form (HPLP-IICR) was used to investigate the health-promoting lifestyles of the students. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Spearman’s correlation, and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

The median scores for self-rated health were 3 (Mean 3.26, IQR 3–4) and 3 (Mean 3.19, IQR 3–4) out of 5 for Year 2 and Year 5 students, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups. The two groups of students showed no significant differences in overall score and in most subscales of the HPLP-IICR. An ordinal logistic regression showed that those students with higher health management score (OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04–1.21) and who had experienced no family conflicts in the recent month than having family conflict (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01–2.66) were more likely to have higher self-rated health.

Conclusion

Nursing education and clinical practice can undoubtedly increase the health knowledge of students, but may not lead to changes in actual health-promoting behaviours. Students with a higher health management score and no family conflicts are more likely to give a positive appraisal of their health status.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12912-018-0322-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.