PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Workers' health is an important factor affecting productivity, profitability, and development in Europe. However, there is evidence that working adults experience varying degrees of adverse physical and mental health outcomes in their daily lives, within and between countries, mainly because of social factors. Although several social factors have been found to be associated with negative health outcomes, work and life related social factors such as work-life conflict, working hours, sleep disturbance, gender harassment, and illegitimate tasks have been less studied. Additionally, most studies that consider job stress and social support as psychosocial factors have relied on the buffering hypothesis. Meanwhile, little attention has been paid to the mediating role of social support in the relationship between job stress and mental well-being outcomes. Moreover, most studies have ignored the gender differences and cross country variations in the relationship between work and life related social factors and health outcomes. The aim of this dissertation is to deepen our understanding of how work- and life-conditions are related to health and health differences between working men and women and between countries in Europe. This research was conducted using nationally representative data from the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Health Survey (SLOSH) and the European Working Condition Survey (EWCS).

Study I examined the association between work-life conflict and poor self assessed health in working men and women and between welfare state regimes in Europe. The study found a positive association between work-life conflict and poor self-assessed health. The association was stronger in women than men and varied between welfare state regimes in Europe.

Study II explored whether the relationship between job stress and mental well-being is mediated by social support. There was a negative association between job stress and mental well-being as well as a positive association between social support and mental well-being. Although gender significantly influenced the association between job stress and mental well- being, it did not significantly influence the association between social support and mental well-being. Furthermore, social support mediated the relationship between job stress and mental well-being in working adults in Europe.

Study III investigated the relationship between working hours, sleep disturbance, and self assessed health in men and women in Europe. The results indicated that both short and long working hours as well as sleep disturbance were positively associated with poor self reported health. Furthermore, there were gender and cross country differences in the relationship between working hours and self-reported health. The association between sleep disturbance and poor self-reported health was more pronounced in working women than men.

Study IV assessed the cross-lagged ( i.e., forward, reverse, and reciprocal) relationship between gender harassment, illegitimate tasks, and poor mental health outcomes ( i.e., burnout and depression) in workers in Sweden over a two-year period. In addition, gender differences in the relationships were explored. The results indicated significant cross-lagged relationships between gender harassment, illegitimate tasks, and adverse mental health outcomes. Gender had an interactive effect on the relationships , while initial illegitimate tasks mediated the relationship between gender harassment and mental health outcomes over time.

In conclusion, this research demonstrates the importance of work- and life-related social factors in explaining health and health differences between working men and women and across countries in Europe. The study highlights the need for governments and stakeholders to consider a multi-sectoral approach that combines policies addressing social determinants of health to tackle health inequalities.