Work-family interface on hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM.

BACKGROUND: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) industries are competitive and can be stressful work environments leading to an increase in substance misuse. Little is known on the role of work-related risk and protective factors on substance misuse among working parents navigating multiple roles. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine work-life balance as a protective factor and various risk factors (emotional exhaustion, work-family, family-work conflicts) for hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM. METHODS: Participants (n = 1,228) were recruited via Qualtrics from across the US and the sample was racially ethnic and gender (50% men, 50% women) diverse. An overall path analysis was conducted to explore direct and indirect effects of work-life balance on hazardous alcohol use and increased risk for prescription drug misuse. Path analyses explored the racial-ethnic and gender differences across the overall model. RESULTS: Path analysis revealed that healthy work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use (b = -.149, p = .004) and decreased risk for prescription drug misuse (b = -.185, p < .001). Exploration of the model across racial-ethnic and gender groups revealed that higher work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use for Black and Asian Americans, but not for Latinos and Whites; and higher work-life balance indirectly predicts decreased hazardous alcohol use for men, but not women. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the work-family interface can help providers understand prevention, risk-reduction practices, and interventions for hazardous alcohol use and prescription drug misuse among diverse working parents in STEM.