Changing housework, changing health? A longitudinal analysis of how changes in housework are associated with functional somatic symptoms

Quality of couple relationship and associated factors in parents of NICU-cared infants during the first year after birth

OBJECTIVE

To describe factors associated with quality of couple relationships among parents of infants cared for in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) 1 year after birth and examine the trajectory of the relationship quality compared to parents from maternity units (MUs).

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinally comparative cohort design. Parents answered surveys during the first year after discharge about the couple relationship, social support, and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

Better social support and a hospital stay of 7-14 days were positively associated with the couple relationship in NICU mothers, whereas not having slept together with the partner and infant during hospitalization were negatively associated. Depressive symptoms were negatively associated with the relationship among NICU fathers. There were no differences in trajectory of the relationship quality between NICU and MU parents.

CONCLUSION

To strengthen couple relationships, it could be important to improve social support, facilitate space and time for support, and enable togetherness during hospitalization.

The perks of doing housework: Longitudinal associations with survival and underlying mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Although the majority of existing literature has suggested positive effects of housework on older adults' health and survival rate, the underlying mechanisms of such effects remain unclear. To address potential mechanisms, the present study examined the association between older adults' housework engagement and days of survival across 14 years and tested three potential mediation pathways in this association.

METHODS

Four thousand Hong Kong older adults (50% female; aged between 65 and 98 years) participated in a longitudinal study in which they reported initial housework engagement and health status across three domains (cognitive functioning, physical health, and mental health) at the baseline, and the numbers of days they survived over the subsequent 14-year period were recorded. Linear regression, Cox proportional hazard, and parallel mediation analyses were performed to examine the relationship between housework engagement and days survived, and the mediating effects of these three health factors.

RESULTS

The results showed a positive association between housework engagement and days survived after controlling for demographic variables (age, sex, education, marital status, subjective social status, and living alone). Physical health and mental health, but not cognitive functioning, partially mediated the relationship between housework engagement and days survived. The findings suggest that doing housework may contribute to longer survival by improving older adults' physical and mental health.

CONCLUSION

The current study confirms positive relations of housework with health and mortality among Hong Kong older adults. As the first study examining the relationships and mediation pathways between doing housework and survival in later life, the findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the positive association between housework and mortality and provide insights for future daily-life health-promotion interventions for older adults.

Gender differences in the relationships between housework and metabolic markers: a longitudinal cohort study in China

Background

Metabolic syndrome has become a major health threat throughout the world, but there are few studies that focus on the effects of housework on human metabolism. This study explores the association between housework and metabolic markers and examines whether there are gender differences in the relationship of housework intensity on these markers.

Methods

We obtained data for 2,624 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and used binary logistic regression to analyze the association between housework and metabolic markers (triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin, blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure).

Results

We observed no association between housework and metabolic markers for men. However, we find that women who engaged in housework had a higher risk of triglycerides than those who did not (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.25). Compared with low-intensity, we also find that women who performed moderate- and high-housework intensity had a higher risk of triglycerides (moderate-intensity: OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.78; high-intensity: OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.98), MetS (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 0.98, 2.43; OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.66), pre-hypertension (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.62; OR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.55), and obesity (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.70; OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.72).

Conclusion

In women, we find that housework is positively associated with the metabolic markers, triglycerides, MetS, and pre-hypertension. However, we did not find evidence that this relationship exists in men, f or any biomarkers we considered. One possible explanation is that people who engage in high-intensity housework are more stressed and sleep less, which could be a mechanism by which housework becomes associated with metabolic disease.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12566-6.

What social determinants outside paid work are related to development of mental health during life? An integrative review of results from the Northern Swedish Cohort

BACKGROUND

Despite global increase in burden of mental health conditions, longitudinal studies on factors related to development of mental health are scarce. Particularly integrated understanding of how factors at each level of ecological system interact to influence mental health of individuals during their life is missing. Both work and outside work (life beyond work) spheres are two important areas in human life which can have independent effects on mental health of individuals. In this integrative review, we aimed to synthesis findings about social determinants outside paid work that are related to development of mental health during life in a 27-year prospective Swedish Cohort study by using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory.

METHODS

The material for this paper consists of all mental health related papers within Northern Swedish Cohort. Papers related to outside paid work exposures of life circumstances were selected. An integrative review was conducted on 27 papers and deductive qualitative content analysis in relation to Bronfenbrenner ecological framework was performed to identify the main themes.

RESULTS

The results of this review showed that class structures and gender order at macro-level permeated into all other levels and finally became embodied in the individuals as symptoms of mental health during life. At the "exo-level" neighbourhood disadvantage was related to mental ill-health of individuals. The importance of parental interaction with other settings, like school, for mental health of individuals was highlighted at "meso-level". At "micro-level" poor social relationships; social and material adversities and inequality in gender relations during adult life were related to mental ill-health.

CONCLUSION

We found mental health of individuals to be related to both unique and common factors manifesting at different socio-ecological levels. Social structures at the macro-level namely class structures and gender order permeate all other levels and eventually become embodied in the individuals as symptoms of mental health during life. Interventions addressing gender and class related inequalities might be of importance for improving mental health of individuals during their life.

Multivariate correlations between pain, life interference, health-related quality of life and full-time sick leave 1 year after multimodal rehabilitation, focus on gender and age

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain is a major and complex health condition associated with reduced work performance. A multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMRP) is a common intervention for chronic pain conditions, the goal being for the person to maintain or return to work.

AIM

To investigate the multivariate relationships between health-related quality of life, life interference, pain, physiological factors before MMRP and full-time sick leave 1 year after MMRP.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were collected from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation. The study included 284 participants. Separate analyses were performed for women, men and three age groups.

RESULTS

There were correlations between sick leave, physical functioning, pain duration, health-related quality of life, and self-assessed importance of work before MMRP and sick leave 1 year after MMRP. The patterns of factors associated with full-time sick leave varied for women, men and age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that full-time sick leave for patients with chronic pain is affected by a number of interacting factors. Occupational therapy interventions aiming to develop activity skills in relation to work roles and enable patients to develop skills required to manage the physical, psychological and social demands to return to work or maintain work could be valuable to increase the possibility of attaining a sustainable work situation.

Gender equality in domestic work and sickness absence - a population-based study on women and men in Sweden

Division of domestic work by gender has been discussed as part of the explanation why women present a higher sickness absence rate than men. This study aimed to examine the association between gender equality in domestic work and sickness absence. Data from 2,609 co-habiting women and men (aged 19-64) collected in a general population in Sweden were used. Associations between different measures of gender equality in domestic work and numbers of sick-leave days were analyzed with logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, children, and paid work. Results show that women reported lower levels of gender equality than men did. Satisfaction with division of domestic work was in the final model associated with lower odds ratio (OR) for sickness absence in men irrespective of number of days. Work-family conflicts were associated with higher ORs for sickness absence in men, 1-7 sick-leave days (OR 1.51 (CI 1.04-2.18)), and in women, 8-30 days (OR 1.51 (1.00-2.33)). More knowledge on the meaning of gender equality in domestic work in relation to sickness absence for women and men are important for future prevention activities.

Are the factors associated with overweight/general obesity and abdominal obesity different depending on menopausal status?

Rapid modernization in China has impacted the daily lives and health of women, including a rise in obesity. However, little is known about the impact of menopausal status, behavior, and psychosocial factors on the risk of obesity for rural women in China. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors, including demographic information (education, family history of T2DM, menopausal status), obesity-related behavior, and psychosocial factors associated with overweight/general obesity and abdominal obesity. In a cross-sectional study design, participants had their weight, height, and waist circumference measured and completed questionnaires regarding family demographics, obesity-related health behaviors (physical activity, diet, sleep), and psychosocial information (stress, social support, and self-efficacy related to physical activity and healthy diet). A total of 646 women were included in this study; 46.6% were overweight/generally obese, and 48% had abdominal obesity. Postmenopausal women had a higher prevalence of general and central obesity. Regular physical activity decreased the risk for overweight/general obesity and abdominal obesity (OR = .41 and .31, respectively, p = .04) in premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women who had not breastfed their infants and reported moderate/high-stress had a higher risk for overweight/general obesity (OR = 3.93, and 2, respectively) and those who reported less than 6 hours of sleep per day increased their risk for abdominal obesity (OR = 2.08). Different factors associated with obesity were found in Chinese women, depending on menopausal status. Future studies should examine the impact of menopause on a woman’s risk for obesity, as well as develop tailored interventions to improve health, well-being and reduce the risk of obesity.

Patients selected to participate in multimodal pain rehabilitation programmes in primary care-a multivariate cross-sectional study focusing on gender and sick leave

Background and aims A multimodal rehabilitation programme (MMRP) is an evidence-based treatment of chronic pain conditions. The complexity involved in chronic pain needs to be identified and evaluated in order to adapt the rehabilitation to patients' needs. The aim was to investigate the multivariate relationships between self-reported variables in patients with chronic pain before taking part in MMRP in primary care, with a special focus on gender and degree of sick leave. Methods Prior to MMRP, 397 patients (339 women and 58 men) filled in a questionnaire about pain, healthcare aspects, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression, coping, physical function, and work-related variables e.g. sick leave. Data were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square analysis. Results The PCA identified four components that explained 47% of the variation in the investigated data set. The first component showed the largest variation and was primarily explained by anxiety and depression, quality of life, acceptance (activity engagement), and pain-related disability. Gender differences were only seen in one component with the pain variables having the highest loadings. Degree of sick leave was not well explained by the variables in the questionnaire. Conclusions The questionnaire filled out by the patients prior to participation in MMRP in primary care identified much of the complexity of chronic pain conditions but there is room for improvement, e.g. regarding explanation of work-related factors. In the multivariate analysis, gender did not fall out as an important factor for how most patients answered the questions. Implications There are not many studies that describe patients who undergo MMRP in primary care since previously such patients were treated mostly in specialist care. More knowledge is needed about these patients in order to improve rehabilitation plans and interventions. The results suggest that the questionnaire identifies the complexity among chronic pain patients in primary care. The identified components could improve assessment before MMRP and contribute to better tailored programmes.

Fair enough? Decreased equity of dyadic coping across the transition to parenthood associated with depression of first-time parents

The transition to parenthood (TTP) is a stressful life event for most couples. Therefore, the way both partners jointly cope with stress (i.e., dyadic coping) is important for the prevention of individual adjustment problems (e.g., depression). For dyadic coping to be effective in reducing depressive symptoms, efforts of both partners should be equal. However, many couples experience a decrease of equity in task division within the domestic sphere across the TTP. The current study investigates the equity of a specific skill within the ‘relationship sphere’, because similarly to a decreased equity in household and childcare, a decreased equity of dyadic coping is likely to be associated with poorer individual adjustment. We collected longitudinal self-report data on dyadic coping and depressive symptoms from 104 mixed-gender first-time parents (n = 208 individuals) from pregnancy until 40 weeks postpartum. We created an equity score for men and women that measured their perceived difference between received and provided dyadic coping. On average, women reported providing more and receiving less dyadic coping than men. While both genders agreed on this distribution, men did perceive a higher equity of dyadic coping than women. Furthermore, the decrease of equity perceived by women across TTP was not visible in men. In line with our assumptions based on the equity theory, perceived equity of dyadic coping was associated with depressive symptoms in a curvilinear manner: Decreases in women’s perceived equity in either direction (over- or underbenefit) were associated with more depressive symptoms in women and their male partners. This association was found above and beyond the beneficial effect of dyadic coping itself. This implies that not only how well partners support each other in times of stress, but also how equal both partners’ efforts are, is important for their individual adjustment across TTP.

Replacing sedentary time with physical activity: effects on health-related quality of life in older Japanese adults

Background

The isotemporal substitution (IS) approach can be used to assess the effect of replacing one activity with the equal duration of another activity on relevant outcomes. This study examined the associations of objectively assessed sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older Japanese adults, using the IS approach.

Methods

Participants were 287 older Japanese adults (aged 65–84 years) who wore accelerometers for at least 7 days. We calculated the average daily time spent in SB (≤1.5 METs); light-intensity PA (LPA: > 1.5 to < 3.0 METs); and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA: ≥3.0 METs) per day. HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-8 questionnaire.

Results

The IS models showed replacing SB or LPA with MVPA to be significantly associated with better physical component summary scores. Replacing SB with MVPA was marginally associated with better mental component summary scores.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that replacing SB with the same amount of MVPA may contribute to better physical HRQOL in older adults.