Abstract
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.
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Submitted: 01 March 2008; revised: 30 July 2008, 06 November 2008; accepted: 01 December 2008
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Hämmig, O., Bauer, G. Work-life imbalance and mental health among male and female employees in Switzerland. Int J Public Health 54, 88–95 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-8031-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-009-8031-7