How Education Shapes Women's Work and Family Lives Across Race and Ethnicity.

Drawing on life course and intersectional approaches, this study examines how education shapes the intertwined domains of work and family across race and ethnicity. By applying multichannel sequence analysis and cluster analysis to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, we identify a typology of life course trajectories of work and family and test for the interactive associations of race and ethnicity with college education for different trajectory types. While our results show statistically significant and often sizable education effects across racial and ethnic groups for most of the work‒family clusters, they also suggest that the size and direction of the education effect vary widely across groups. Educational attainment plays an outsize role in shaping Black women's work‒family lives, increasing their access to steady work and partnerships, while educational attainment primarily works to increase White women's participation in part-time work. In contrast, Latina women's work‒family trajectories are less responsive to their educational attainment. In combination, the racialized role of education and persistent racial and ethnic gaps across the education distribution yield unequal patterns in work‒family strategies among Black, Latina, and White women.

Socioeconomic status, work-life conflict, and mental health.

BACKGROUND: Work-life conflict (WLC) has a critical effect on employee mental health. However, research on occupational health has neglected the family domain. Furthermore, although it is reasonable to assume that the effect of WLC on health may differ according to socioeconomic circumstances, there is little empirical evidence for differences in the impact of WLC by socioeconomic status (SES). The purpose of this study was to assess the role of SES as an effect modifier, while examining whether the SES level affects the relationship between WLC and mental health. METHOD: We analyzed data from the nationally representative South Korean Working Conditions Survey of 2014, including 49 401 workers. Logistic regression analyses, stratified by sexes, were performed to identify sex differences, and interaction terms including WLC and SES were also incorporated. RESULTS: WLC (men: OR = 1.24; women: OR = 1.18) and domestic demands (men: OR = 1.16; women: OR = 1.22) were significantly associated with mental health. WLC exhibited a stronger association with mental health for individuals with high SES, both in terms of education (men: OR = 1.61 vs 1.51; women: OR = 1.52 vs 1.24) and income (men: OR = 1.44 vs 1.10; women: OR = 1.48 vs 1.20). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that future efforts for health promotion should consider workers' family demands and SES as important modifying factors of psychological health in the workplace.

The work and training situation for young physicians undergoing specialty training in gynecology and obstetrics in Germany: an assessment of the status quo.

PURPOSE: General conditions in the health-care system in Germany have changed dramatically in recent years. Factors affecting this include above all demographic change, rapid developments in diagnostic and therapeutic options, and the application of economic criteria to the health-care sector. This study aimed to establish the current status quo regarding conditions of work and training for young doctors in gynecology and obstetrics, analyze stress factors, and suggest potential improvements. METHODS: Between October 2015 and March 2016, a web-based survey was carried out among residents and members of the German Society for Gynecology and Obstetrics. The electronic questionnaire comprised 65 items on seven topics. Part of the survey included the short version of a validated model of professional gratification crises for analyzing psychosocial work-related stress. RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 391 complete datasets. Considerable negative findings in relation to psychosocial work pressure, time and organizational factors, quality of specialty training, and compatibility between work and family life and work and academic tasks were detected. A high level of psychosocial work pressure is associated with more frequent job changes, reduced working hours, poorer health among physicians, and a lower subjectively assessed quality of care. CONCLUSIONS: Greater efforts are needed from all the participants involved in patient care to achieve high-quality training and working conditions that allow physicians to work in a healthy and effective way. These aspects are all prerequisites for sustainably maximizing the resource "physician" and for ensuring high-quality patient care.

Work-family balance and the subjective well-being of rural women in Sichuan, China.

BACKGROUND: Due to the great burden of family and the conflicts among family, society and career roles resulting from migrant working, rural women suffer more conflicts between work and family and need more social attention. Previous studies of the conflicts between family and work mainly focus on the group of career women, and there is a lack of the research on the conflicts between work and family of rural women, which needs to be systematically and further studied. METHODS: This study used a sample survey of 380 rural women in rural areas of Sichuan Province to measure rural women's cognition of work-family, coordination and handling of conflicts, post-conflict choices, and subjective well-being; the study constructs an ordered multi-class logistic regression model to explore the impact of work-family conflict on the subjective well-being of rural women in rural regions. RESULTS: The study result shows that: (1) The level of subjective well-being of rural women is generally high, and 70% of women feel satisfied or very satisfied. (2) The factor which impacts the subjective well-being among rural women most is work-interfering-with-family conflict, followed by work-family balance and confidence in conflict coordination. CONCLUSION: This study can enhance our understanding of rural women in rural areas, and provide a reference for formulating policies to improve people's life satisfaction.

Work-Family Conflict and Work Exit in Later Career Stage.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated relationships between work-family conflict and routes of later-life work exit. METHODS: We used a cohort of British civil servants (5,157 men; 2,027 women) who participated in the Whitehall II study. Work interference with family (WIF) and family interference with work (FIW) were measured up to three times over 10 years. Cause-specific Cox models were used to assess the influence of WIF/FIW on particular routes ("retirement," "health-related exit," "unemployment," or "homemaker/other") of work exit in later career stage and all routes combined. RESULTS: WIF was not associated with any route of work exit in men or women, after adjusting for confounders. For perceived higher FIW, men were less likely to exit work through retirement, homemaker/other, or all routes combined. This was not attenuated by adding family factors or working conditions. Women with higher FIW were more likely to exit through the homemaker route. This was no longer significant after adjusting for family factors. Neither FIW nor WIF was associated with health-related exit or unemployment. DISCUSSION: FIW makes women more likely to become a homemaker at later career stage but reduces the risk of leaving work for men, which may reinforce gender inequality in work participation.

[Work-Family Balance within the Medical Profession: An Exploratory Study]. / Conciliação Trabalho-Família na Profissão Médica: Um Estudo Exploratório.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to characterize and assess work-family balance within the medical profession in Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional and exploratory study analyzed a sample of 181 doctors who are members of the Portuguese Catholic Doctors' Association. A qualitative survey with multiple-choice questions was applied in order to assess socioeconomic and working conditions as well as work-family balance. Descriptive and linear regression analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Nearly 40% of the surveyed doctors negatively assessed the work-family balance within the private sector. As for the Portuguese National Health System, 73% negatively assessed the work-family balance within the public sector. More than half of those surveyed (56%) worked more hours than what they considered as harmful for their work-family balance and the vast majority was working at the limit or overtime. Data collected enabled us to associate a heavier workload with working in the emergency room, age and men. Moreover, it was observed that working more hours was not linked to having children or being married. DISCUSSION: In our study, the three measures of work-family balance that the participants considered to be the most important were the possibility of flexible scheduling, part-time work and temporarily reducing working hours (e.g. for family assistance). These aspects may explain the differences found in the assessment of work-family balance between the public and private sector. CONCLUSION: Due to the demanding nature of the medical profession, doctors are placed into a particularly risky situation in order to achieve a suitable work-family balance. The results of our study indicate a general dissatisfaction regarding this balance - special in the public sector - which is mainly associated with excessive weekly working hours.

Introdução: Este estudo propôs-se caraterizar e avaliar a conciliação trabalho-família na profissão médica em Portugal.Material e Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional, transversal e exploratório de uma amostra de 181 médicos sócios da Associação dos Médicos Católicos Portugueses. Foi aplicado um questionário de resposta múltipla e valoração qualitativa, por forma a avaliar caraterísticas socioeconómicas, laborais e a conciliação trabalho-família. Foram realizadas análises descritiva e de regressão linear.Resultados: Cerca de 40% dos médicos inquiridos avaliam negativamente a conciliação trabalho-família no sector privado. Já para o Serviço Nacional de Saúde, são 73% os médicos inquiridos que avaliam negativamente a conciliação trabalho-família no sector público. Verificou-se que mais de metade dos inquiridos (56%) tinha uma carga horária superior à que considera danosa à sua conciliação trabalho-família, sendo que a grande maioria trabalhava no limite ou em excesso de carga horária. Os dados obtidos permitiram associar maior carga horária com fazer urgências, com a idade e ser do sexo masculino. Foi ainda observado que maior carga horária não está associada a ter filhos ou ser casado.Discussão: No nosso estudo, as três medidas de conciliação trabalho-família que os participantes consideraram ser as mais importantes foram a possibilidade de flexibilizar o horário, trabalhar a tempo parcial e reduzir temporariamente o horário de trabalho (por exemplo, devido a assistência à família). Estes aspetos poderão explicar as diferenças encontradas na avaliação da conciliação trabalho-família entre o sector público e o sector privado.Conclusão: A profissão médica pelas suas características de exigência coloca os médicos numa situação particular de risco para alcançarem uma adequada conciliação trabalho-família. Os resultados do nosso estudo apontam para uma insatisfação dessa conciliação, sendo que essa insatisfação é mais marcada no sector público, tendencialmente associada ao excesso de carga horária semanal.

Organisational factors and occupational balance in working parents in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Parents with small children constitute a vulnerable group as they have an increased risk of sick leave due to stress-related disorders compared to adults without children. It has been shown that mothers and fathers to small children together spend more time in paid work than any other group, which could create negative stress and an experience of low occupational balance. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine associations between organisational factors and occupational balance among parents with small children in Sweden. METHODS: Data were collected by a survey including questions about occupational balance, organisational factors and age, sex, employment rate, work position, monthly household income, number of children at home, separation/divorce last five years and overtime. The total number of parents included in this study was 718 (490 mothers and 228 fathers). Logistic regression models were applied to examine the odds ratios for occupational balance in relation to organisational factors. RESULTS: Parents who experienced positive attitudes towards parenthood and parental leave among colleagues and managers were more likely to experience high occupational balance than parents who experienced negative or neutral attitudes. Having a clear structure for handover when absent from work was also strongly associated with high occupational balance. CONCLUSIONS: The result of the present study indicates that some organisational factors could be important for the occupational balance of parents with small children.

Work addiction and quality of life: a study with physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of life of physicians and investigate to what extent it is affected by work addiction. METHODS: This is an exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted with 1,110 physicians. For data collection, we used a questionnaire with sociodemographic information, the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF, and the Work Addiction Scale. RESULTS: Most physicians presented high quality of life. Female participants presented lower quality of life in the domains psychologic, environment and general (p<0.05). Quality of life was negatively correlated with the number of shifts (p<0.005). The higher the addiction to work, the lower the quality of life. CONCLUSION: The research allowed understanding the implications of work addiction in the quality of life. Further studies are required to support the development of strategies that improve health conditions and quality of life of medical professionals. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de vida de médicos e investigar em que medida a adição ao trabalho a afeta. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo e transversal, realizado com 1.110 médicos. Para coleta de dados, optou-se por utilizar um questionário contendo informações sociodemográficas, bem como aplicar o instrumento World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF e a Escala de Adição ao Trabalho. RESULTADOS: Os médicos, em sua maioria, apresentaram alta qualidade de vida. Os participantes do sexo feminino tiveram menor qualidade de vida em relação aos homens nos domínios psicológico, meio ambiente e geral (p<0,05). A qualidade de vida correlacionou-se negativamente com o número de plantões (p<0,005), e quanto maior a adição ao trabalho, menor a qualidade de vida. CONCLUSÃO: A pesquisa permitiu o conhecimento das implicações da adição ao trabalho sobre a qualidade de vida. Novos estudos são necessários para subsidiar a elaboração de estratégias que melhorem a saúde e a qualidade de vida do profissional médico.

Work addiction and quality of life: a study with physicians / Adição ao trabalho e qualidade de vida: um estudo com médicos

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the quality of life of physicians and investigate to what extent it is affected by work addiction. Methods This is an exploratory, descriptive and cross-sectional study, conducted with 1,110 physicians. For data collection, we used a questionnaire with sociodemographic information, the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF, and the Work Addiction Scale. Results Most physicians presented high quality of life. Female participants presented lower quality of life in the domains psychologic, environment and general (p<0.05). Quality of life was negatively correlated with the number of shifts (p<0.005). The higher the addiction to work, the lower the quality of life. Conclusion The research allowed understanding the implications of work addiction in the quality of life. Further studies are required to support the development of strategies that improve health conditions and quality of life of medical professionals.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a qualidade de vida de médicos e investigar em que medida a adição ao trabalho a afeta. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo e transversal, realizado com 1.110 médicos. Para coleta de dados, optou-se por utilizar um questionário contendo informações sociodemográficas, bem como aplicar o instrumento World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF e a Escala de Adição ao Trabalho. Resultados Os médicos, em sua maioria, apresentaram alta qualidade de vida. Os participantes do sexo feminino tiveram menor qualidade de vida em relação aos homens nos domínios psicológico, meio ambiente e geral (p<0,05). A qualidade de vida correlacionou-se negativamente com o número de plantões (p<0,005), e quanto maior a adição ao trabalho, menor a qualidade de vida. Conclusão A pesquisa permitiu o conhecimento das implicações da adição ao trabalho sobre a qualidade de vida. Novos estudos são necessários para subsidiar a elaboração de estratégias que melhorem a saúde e a qualidade de vida do profissional médico.

The relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work-family conflict, and turnover intention among physicians in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between job satisfaction, work stress, work-family conflict and turnover intention, and explore factors associated with turnover intention, among physicians in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: From August to October 2013, physicians completed questionnaires and scales with regard to their job satisfaction, work stress, work-family conflict, and turnover intention. Binary logistic regression and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used in data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3963 physicians were approached, with 3563 completing the questionnaire. The mean score of the overall perception of turnover intention of physicians who worked in Guangdong was 2.71 on a scale ranging from 1 to 6. Hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, type of institution, and age significantly impacted on turnover intention. Turnover intention was directly and negatively related to job satisfaction, and it was directly, indirectly and positively related to work stress and work-family conflict. CONCLUSION: Job satisfaction, work stress, work-family conflict, hours worked per week, working in an urban/rural area, types of institution and age are influencing factors of turnover intention. Reducing working hours, raising salary, providing more opportunities for career development and training, supporting and encouraging physicians by senior managers could potentially contribute to the reduction in turnover intention.

Stagnation only on the surface? The implications of skill and family responsibilities for the gender wage gap in Sweden, 1974-2010.

The wage differential between women and men persists in advanced economies despite the inflow of women into qualified occupations in recent years. Using five waves of the Swedish Level-of-Living Survey (LNU), this paper explores the gender wage gap in Sweden during the 1974-2010 period overall and by skill level. The empirical analyses showed that the general gender wage gap has been nearly unchanged for the past 30 years. However, the gender difference in wage in less qualified occupations fell considerably, whereas the gender pay gap remained stable for men and women in qualified occupations. The larger significance of family responsibilities for wages in qualified occupations is one likely explanation for this result.

Work-family life courses and BMI trajectories in three British birth cohorts.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Combining work and family responsibilities has previously been associated with improved health in mid-life, yet little is known about how these associations change over time (both biographical and historical) and whether this extends to body mass index (BMI) trajectories for British men and women. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between work-family life courses and BMI trajectories across adulthood (16-42 years) for men and women in three British birth cohorts. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Multiply imputed data from three nationally representative British birth cohorts were used-the MRC National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD; 1946 birth cohort, n=3012), the National Child Development Study (NCDS; 1958 birth cohort, n=9614) and the British Cohort Study (BCS; 1970 birth cohort, n=8140). A typology of work-family life course types was developed using multi-channel sequence analysis, linking annual information on work, partnerships and parenthood from 16 to 42 years. Work-family life courses were related to BMI trajectories using multi-level growth models. Analyses adjusted for indicators of prior health, birthweight, child BMI, educational attainment and socioeconomic position across the life course, and were stratified by gender and cohort. RESULTS: Work-family life courses characterised by earlier transitions to parenthood and weaker long-term links to employment were associated with greater increases in BMI across adulthood. Some of these differences, particularly for work-family groups, which are becoming increasingly non-normative, became more pronounced across cohorts (for example, increases in BMI between 16 and 42 years in long-term homemaking women: NSHD: 4.35 kg m-2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.44, 5.26; NCDS: 5.53 kg m-2, 95% CI: 5.18, 5.88; BCS: 6.69 kg m-2, 95% CI: 6.36, 7.02). CONCLUSIONS: Becoming a parent earlier and weaker long-term ties to employment are associated with greater increases in BMI across adulthood in British men and women.

The benefits of bad economies: Business cycles and time-based work-life conflict.

Recent management research has indicated the importance of family, sleep, and recreation as nonwork activities of employees. Drawing from entrainment theory, we develop an expanded model of work-life conflict to contend that macrolevel business cycles influence the amount of time employees spend on both work and nonwork activities. Focusing solely on working adults, we test this model in a large nationally representative dataset from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that spans an 8-year period, which includes the "Great Recession" from 2007 through 2009. We find that during economic booms, employees work more and therefore spend less time with family, sleeping, and recreating. In contrast, in recessionary economies, employees spend less time working and therefore more time with family, sleeping, and recreating. Thus, we extend the theory on time-based work-to-family conflict, showing that there are potential personal and relational benefits for employees in recessionary economies.