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Chela-Alvarez X, Leiva A, Bulilete O, Llobera J. Socioeconomic determinants and self-rated health among hotel housekeepers in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Front Public Health 2024; 12:1390582. [PMID: 39286742 PMCID: PMC11402826 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1390582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hotel housekeepers constitute an important occupational group in the Balearic Islands (Spain). Housekeeping is considered low-skilled and precarious and typically involves high physical demands and time pressure. The aim of this study is to analyze the association between the socioeconomic determinants of health and hotel housekeepers' self-rated health. Methods This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Primary Health Care in the Balearic Islands (November 2018-February 2019). Hotel housekeepers over 18 years of age with free access to the Balearic Public Health System who had been employed during 2018 were eligible. Results We enrolled 1,043 hotel housekeepers; the mean score of health perceived status was 72.4/100 (SD 19.0). Those with a lower self-perceived health were statistically significant older, had Spanish nationality, lower level of studies, permanent or recurring seasonal contract, financial difficulties, a higher level of occupational stress, an external locus of control, reported work-life balance difficulties, were former smokers, insufficiently physical active and obese. We found lower scores in self-perceived health status score of -7.159 (CI95% -10.20- -4.12) among hotel housekeepers with osteoarthritis; -6.858 (CI95% -11.89- -1.82) among those with chronic depression; -3.697 (CI95% -6.08- -1.31) among those who reported difficulties in work-life balance; -2.414 (CI95% -4.69- -0.13) among participants who performed insufficient physical activity; -2.107 (CI% -4.44- -0.23) among those who reported financial strain. Lower self-rated health was also associated to a higher perceived stress, -1.440 (CI95% -2.09- -0.79); BMI (kg/m2), -0.299 (CI95% -0.53- -0.07); and longer time working as HH -0.177 (CI95% -0.33- -0.03). Conclusion Our results underscore the importance of psychosocial (such as difficulties in work-life balance and occupational stress) and material factors (such as financial difficulties) when explaining differences in self-perceived health. Public health interventions aimed at improving health status must consider inequalities in material and working conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xenia Chela-Alvarez
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain
- GrAPP-caIB - Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- RICAPPS- Red de Investigación Cooperativa de Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud - Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Leiva
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain
- GrAPP-caIB - Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- RICAPPS- Red de Investigación Cooperativa de Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud - Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oana Bulilete
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain
- GrAPP-caIB - Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- RICAPPS- Red de Investigación Cooperativa de Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud - Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Llobera
- Primary Care Research Unit of Mallorca, Balearic Islands Health Service, Palma, Spain
- GrAPP-caIB - Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- RICAPPS- Red de Investigación Cooperativa de Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud - Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
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Nordenmark M, Vinberg S. Working from home, work/life conflict and mental wellbeing in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Work 2024; 78:295-304. [PMID: 38160387 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many employees away from their offices into their homes. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in early spring 2020, most countries recommended or required that employees work remotely from home to reduce the spread of infection at workplaces and during travel to and from these workplaces. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between working from home, work/life conflict and mental wellbeing in Europe during the pandemic. METHODS The study was based on a large-scale, online survey that was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic three times, in 2020, 2021 and 2022, in 27 EU countries, and included 53 214 respondents that were employed at the time of the study. RESULTS The results showed that working from home, work-to-life conflict and life-to-work conflict has increased and that mental wellbeing has decreased during the pandemic. Our regression analyses showed that the number of hours worked from home was negatively associated with work-to-life conflict and positively associated with life-to-work conflict. These results indicate that working from home can have both positive and negative consequences for employees' work/life conflict. The regression results showed that hours worked from home, work-to-life conflict and life-to-work conflict were negatively associated with mental wellbeing. CONCLUSION It is important to consider different work situations for different working life groupings when implementing work-from-home measures. Organizations must consider how work is supervised and help managers understand how to support employees to achieve work-life balance when working remotely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikael Nordenmark
- Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
| | - Stig Vinberg
- Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden
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Hagqvist E, Nyberg A, Leineweber C. A Theoretical Development of the Gender Embodiment of Enrichment: A Study of Gender Norms in Enrichment and Factors Related to Enrichment in a Sample of the Swedish Working Population. FRONTIERS IN SOCIOLOGY 2021; 6:669789. [PMID: 33996993 PMCID: PMC8116733 DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2021.669789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Enrichment is a phenomenon described as the synergistic and beneficial effects of participating in both work and private life. Far too few studies have acknowledged the role of gender in enrichment. By applying a gender theoretical approach, this article has two aims; first, we aim to study the role of gender in enrichment by examining the factorial structure of enrichment in men and women; secondly, we aim to study the relationship between enrichment and work and private life factors in an approximately representative sample of the Swedish working population. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis with measurement in variance was performed and this resulted in a two-factor solution for enrichment for both men and women, representing the two directions of enrichment: work-to-life enrichment (WLE) and life-to-work enrichment (LWE). Factor loadings differ across genders, indicating that men and women construct and value items of enrichment differently. Next, linear mixed models were used to answer the second aim. Results show that gendered cultural norms in work and private life manifest in the relationship between factors in the work and home sphere and enrichment. Factors in work and private life with more or less masculine or feminine epithets relate differently to WLE and LWE for men and women. The main conclusion is that masculine and feminine norms are embodied in the values and experiences of enrichment and factors related to enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hagqvist
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Nyberg
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Constanze Leineweber
- Department of Psychology, Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Almén N. A Cognitive Behavioral Model Proposing That Clinical Burnout May Maintain Itself. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18073446. [PMID: 33810358 PMCID: PMC8037062 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Burnout is common in many countries and is associated with several other problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, and memory deficits, and prospectively it predicts long-term sick-leave, cardiovascular disease, and death. Clinical burnout or its residual symptoms often last several years and a common assumption is that recovery takes a long time by nature, despite full time sick-leave and the absence of work stress. The literature suggests models that hypothetically explain the development, but not maintenance, of the syndrome. Based on cognitive and behavioral principles, stress research, and stress theories, this paper describes a theoretical model explaining how clinical burnout can develop and be maintained. While the development of clinical burnout is mainly explained by prolonged stress reactions and disturbed recovery processes due to work related stressors, maintenance of the syndrome is particularly explained by prolonged stress reactions and disturbed recovery processes due to the new context of experiencing burnout and being on sick-leave. Worry about acquired memory deficits, passivity and excessive sleep, shame, fear of stress reactions, and the perception of not being safe are examples of responses that can contribute to the maintenance. The model has important implications for research and how to intervene in clinical burnout. For example, it can offer support to professional care providers and patients in terms of focusing on, identifying, and changing current contextual factors and behaviors that maintain the individual’s clinical burnout symptoms and by that facilitate burnout recovery. Regarding research, the model provides a highly important reason for researchers to study contextual factors and behaviors that contribute to the maintenance of clinical burnout, which has been neglected in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niclas Almén
- Department of Psychology and Social Work, Mid Sweden University, 831 25 Östersund, Sweden
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Work/Family Conflict of More Importance than Psychosocial Working Conditions and Family Conditions for Mental Wellbeing. SOCIETIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/soc10030067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Studies have indicated the importance of family life and psychosocial working conditions for mental wellbeing. More recently, studies have highlighted that a good balance between work and family is crucial for good mental wellbeing. However, few studies compare the relative importance of these factors for mental wellbeing. The main aim of this study was to analyse the relative importance of psychosocial working conditions, family conditions and work/family conflict for mental wellbeing. The analyses are based on a Swedish data set, including questions regarding working life, family life and mental wellbeing. A total of 12,461 married/cohabiting individuals employed in Swedish organisations were included in the study. Results show that psychosocial working conditions, family conditions and work/family conflict all were related to mental wellbeing. In the final regression model, the strongest correlation was found between mental wellbeing and the variables work/family conflict, satisfaction with private life and partner relationship, with work/family conflict appearing to be of greatest importance. These findings highlight the necessity of including measurements of work/family conflict when studying the importance of work and family conditions for individual mental wellbeing. For workplace health promotion and improvement, it may be beneficial to consider not only psychosocial working conditions, but also family conditions, and particularly work/life conflict.
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Balancing Work and Life When Self-Employed: The Role of Business Characteristics, Time Demands, and Gender Contexts. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci7080139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explores individual and contextual risk factors in relation to work interfering with private life (WIL) and private life interfering with work (LIW) among self-employed men and women across European countries. It also studies the relationship between interference (LIW and WIL) and well-being among self-employed men and women. Drawing on data from the fifth round of the European Working Conditions Survey, a sample of self-employed men and women with active businesses was extracted. After applying multilevel regressions, results show that although business characteristics are important, the most evident risk factor for WIL and LIW is time demands. Both time demands and business characteristics also seem to be important factors in relation to gender differences in level of interference. There is a relationship between well-being and both WIL and LIW, and time demands is again an important factor. Gender equality in the labor market did not relate to level of interference, nor did it affect the relationship between interference and well-being. However, in gender-separated analyses, LIW and LIW interacted with gender equality in the labor market in different ways for women’s and men’s well-being. In conclusion, gender relations are important in interference and how interference relates to well-being.
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Wagman P, Nordin M, Alfredsson L, Westerholm PJM, Fransson EI. Domestic work division and satisfaction in cohabiting adults: Associations with life satisfaction and self-rated health. Scand J Occup Ther 2016; 24:24-31. [PMID: 27686578 DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2016.1217926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amount and perception of domestic work may affect satisfaction with everyday life, but further knowledge is needed about the relationship between domestic work division and health and well-being. AIM To describe the division of, and satisfaction with, domestic work and responsibility for home/family in adults living with a partner. A further aim was to investigate the associations between these aspects and self-rated life satisfaction and health. METHOD Data from the Work, Lipids and Fibrinogen survey collected 2009 were used, comprising 4924 participants living with a partner. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS The majority shared domestic work and responsibility for home/family equally with their partner. However, more women conducted the majority of the domestic work and were less satisfied with its division. When both division and satisfaction with division was included in the analysis, solely satisfaction with the division and the responsibility were associated with higher odds for good life satisfaction. Regarding health, higher odds for good self-rated health were seen in those who were satisfied with their division of responsibility. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE The results highlight the importance of taking into account not solely the actual division of domestic work but also the satisfaction with it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Wagman
- a School of Health and Welfare , Jönköping University , Jönköping , Sweden
| | - Maria Nordin
- b Department of Psychology , Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden.,c Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Lars Alfredsson
- d Center of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council , Stockholm , Sweden.,e Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Peter J M Westerholm
- f Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , Uppsala University , Uppsala , Sweden
| | - Eleonor I Fransson
- a School of Health and Welfare , Jönköping University , Jönköping , Sweden.,e Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
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Harryson L, Aléx L, Hammarström A. "I have surly passed a limit, it is simply too much": women's and men's experiences of stress and wellbeing when living within a process of housework resignation. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:224. [PMID: 26944701 PMCID: PMC4779260 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-2920-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gender inequality within paid and unpaid work exposes women and men to different environments and responsibilities. These gender patterns shape living conditions for women and men, either negatively or positively, by affecting the prospect of good health. Most public health studies of gender and housework are quantitative, and knowledge about the relationship between housework experiences and health for women and men is limited. The aim of this study was to explore the housework experiences and practices of women and men and their experiences of stress and perceived wellbeing from a gender perspective. METHODS We conducted thematic interviews with four women and four men living in Sweden, and performed an analysis using the Grounded Theory method. FINDINGS We found that stereotypical gender practices in housework influenced experiences of stress and perceived wellbeing among women and men. Despite proposing gender equality in housework as a means of improving wellbeing, inequality was amplified by the way women and men handle the gendered division of housework. We call this recurring theme "The process of housework resignation", which also constitute the core category in our analysis. "The process of housework resignation" was theorised from the categories "Gender practices in housework", "Experiencing stress and wellbeing" and "Managing daily life". CONCLUSIONS Stereotypical gender practices in housework can increase experiences of stress among women and men. Challenging stereotypical masculinities can be a key for breaking the process of resignation in housework and for facilitating improved health among both women and men in heterosexual couple relationships within a Swedish context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Harryson
- />Department of Sociology, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lena Aléx
- />Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anne Hammarström
- />Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epidemiological and community-based surveys consistently report gender differences in mental health. This study examines gender differences in psychological distress by analyzing the relevance of stress, coping styles, social support and the time use. METHODS Psychological tests were administered to a convenience sample of 1,337 men and 1,251 women from the Spanish general population, aged between 18 and 65 and with different socio-demographic characteristics, although both the women and men groups had similar age and educational levels. RESULTS Women had more psychological distress than men. Although psychological distress in the women and men groups have some common correlates such as more stress, more emotional and less rational coping and less social support, we find some gender differences. Work role dissatisfaction was more associated with distress in the men than in the women group. In addition, women's distress was associated with more daily time devoted to childcare and less to activities they enjoy, and men's distress was associated with more time devoted to housework and less to physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS Social roles traditionally attributed to women and men - and the differences in the use of time that such roles entail - are relevant in gender differences in psychological distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pilar Matud
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Laguna University, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Juan M Bethencourt
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Laguna University, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ibáñez
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology and Methodology, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Laguna University, La Laguna, Spain
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