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Work-life imbalance and mental health among male and female employees in Switzerland

Hämmig, Oliver ; Bauer, Georg

In: International Journal of Public Health, 2009, vol. 54, no. 2, p. 88-95

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    Title
    • Work-life imbalance and mental health among male and female employees in Switzerland
    Author
    • Hämmig, Oliver. Division of Public and Organizational Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Organizational and Occupational Sciences, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
    • Bauer, Georg. Division of Public and Organizational Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Center for Organizational and Occupational Sciences, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • International Journal of Public Health, 2009, vol. 54, no. 2, p. 88-95. Birkhäuser-Verlag
    Other Version
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:319571
    Summary
    Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and mental health effects of an unequal work-life balance (WLB) including potential gender differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a representative sample of the Swiss employed population aged 20 to 64 (women: n = 1661; men: n = 1591). Results: Based on a single-item measure, more than every seventh employee in Switzerland indicated major difficulties combining work and private life. In certain socio-demographic categories, up to 30% showed such work-life conflict (WLC). For both genders, work-life imbalance turned out to be a risk factor affecting mental health. Employees with self-reported WLC presented a significantly higher relative risk for poor self-rated health (women: aOR = 2.6/men: aOR = 2.0), negative emotions and depression (aOR = 3.0/3.1), low energy and optimism (aOR = 2.1/1.6), fatigue (aOR = 2.4/2.6), and sleep disorders (aOR = 1.8/1.5) compared to employees with no WLC. Conclusions: Internationally, few data on the prevalence of WLC exist. In Switzerland, work-life imbalance is not a marginal phenomenon among the workforce and needs to be addressed as a notable public and mental health issue