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Gender inequality at home is associated with poorer health for women.

Eek, Frida LU and Axmon, Anna LU orcid (2015) In Scandinavian Journal of Public Health 43(2). p.176-182
Abstract
Background: As more women have joined the work force, the difference in employment rate between men and women has decreased, in Sweden as well as many other countries. Despite this, traditional gender patterns regarding, for example, responsibility for household duties still remain. Women are on sick leave more often than men, and previous studies have indicated that an unequal split of household responsibilities and perceived gender inequality could be associated with negative health outcomes. Aims: The aim of the present study was to explore whether an unequal distribution of responsibilities in the home was related to various health related outcomes among women. Methods: A sample consisting of 837 women living in a relationship, and... (More)
Background: As more women have joined the work force, the difference in employment rate between men and women has decreased, in Sweden as well as many other countries. Despite this, traditional gender patterns regarding, for example, responsibility for household duties still remain. Women are on sick leave more often than men, and previous studies have indicated that an unequal split of household responsibilities and perceived gender inequality could be associated with negative health outcomes. Aims: The aim of the present study was to explore whether an unequal distribution of responsibilities in the home was related to various health related outcomes among women. Methods: A sample consisting of 837 women living in a relationship, and working at least 50% of full time, responded to a questionnaire including information about division of responsibilities at home as well as various psychological and physiological health related outcomes. Results: The results showed that women living in relationships with perceived more unequal distribution of responsibility for house hold duties showed significantly higher levels of perceived stress, fatigue, physical/psychosomatic symptoms, and work family conflict compared with women living in more equal relationships. They also had significantly increased odds for insufficient time for various forms of recovery, which may further contribute to an increased risk of poor health. Conclusions: Although an increasing employment rate among women is valuable for both society and individuals, it is important to work towards greater gender equality at home to maintain this development without it having a negative effect on women's health and well-being. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health
volume
43
issue
2
pages
176 - 182
publisher
SAGE Publications
external identifiers
  • pmid:25504654
  • wos:000351439100010
  • scopus:84924960362
  • pmid:25504654
ISSN
1651-1905
DOI
10.1177/1403494814562598
project
Att vara yrkesarbetande och småbarnsförälder - vilka arbetsplatsrelaterade faktorer kan leda till ökat välbefinnande och minskad stress?
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9272729e-97e6-4863-9299-da57bd1e1d1b (old id 4908376)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25504654?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:17:35
date last changed
2022-04-27 20:39:11
@article{9272729e-97e6-4863-9299-da57bd1e1d1b,
  abstract     = {{Background: As more women have joined the work force, the difference in employment rate between men and women has decreased, in Sweden as well as many other countries. Despite this, traditional gender patterns regarding, for example, responsibility for household duties still remain. Women are on sick leave more often than men, and previous studies have indicated that an unequal split of household responsibilities and perceived gender inequality could be associated with negative health outcomes. Aims: The aim of the present study was to explore whether an unequal distribution of responsibilities in the home was related to various health related outcomes among women. Methods: A sample consisting of 837 women living in a relationship, and working at least 50% of full time, responded to a questionnaire including information about division of responsibilities at home as well as various psychological and physiological health related outcomes. Results: The results showed that women living in relationships with perceived more unequal distribution of responsibility for house hold duties showed significantly higher levels of perceived stress, fatigue, physical/psychosomatic symptoms, and work family conflict compared with women living in more equal relationships. They also had significantly increased odds for insufficient time for various forms of recovery, which may further contribute to an increased risk of poor health. Conclusions: Although an increasing employment rate among women is valuable for both society and individuals, it is important to work towards greater gender equality at home to maintain this development without it having a negative effect on women's health and well-being.}},
  author       = {{Eek, Frida and Axmon, Anna}},
  issn         = {{1651-1905}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{176--182}},
  publisher    = {{SAGE Publications}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Public Health}},
  title        = {{Gender inequality at home is associated with poorer health for women.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1403494814562598}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1403494814562598}},
  volume       = {{43}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}