A Gendered Analysis of Work, Stress and Mental Health, Among Professional and Non-Professional Workers

Abstract

This study examines the differences in mental health experiences of workers in professional and non-professional roles, with a particular focus on the influence of gender. We examine: i) the perceived mental health of a subset of professional workers including accounting, academia, dentistry, medicine, nursing, and teaching, chosen because they represent different gender composition and sectors; and ii) work stress and work absences. Statistical analyses were applied to data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and a related Mental Health and Well-Being survey. Those in the selected professions reported better mental health, higher job satisfaction, and a lower prevalence of mental disorders, but higher self-perceived life and work stress compared to workers in non-professional roles. Workers in these professions reported higher job security and higher job control, but also higher psychological demands. Women in these professions showed significantly higher physical exertion and lower job authority and higher rates of work absences.

Supporting MRT mental health: Through COVID-19 and beyond

“… 32 Men and women disclose and access supports, and experience tensions differently, in part to inequalities in social relations at work. 33 We encourage MRTs to speak up when they are feeling overwhelmed and to reflect on the various factors affecting their mental health.…”

Work & life stress experienced by professional workers during the pandemic: a gender-based analysis

“…Our data show that in more traditionally masculine professions such as dentistry and academia, caring for children was notably higher for women before and during the pandemic. This demonstrates the importance of understanding if work and life stressors are profession specific or gender specific or interact in some way [73].…”

“…Huang et al [66] found a strong relationship between the number of working hours and occupational burnout in women professionals even when variables such as age, marital and parental status and household responsibilities are controlled. One study investigating the gendered nature of work, stress, and mental health found that women professionals reported higher levels of psychological demands and had higher rates of work absences than non-professional women workers [73].…”

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“…In line with other research (Lawrence et al., 2020), I include a binary measure of occupation prestige (professional occupation versus non‐professional as referent) where professional occupation incorporates respondents who work in management, business administration, applied sciences, health occupations, public service, and unprofessional includes all other occupation types and unemployed respondents. Individuals employed in professional occupations are shown to report better mental health than non‐professional and unemployed counterparts (Bourgeault et al., 2021) and are more likely to earn higher wages, job security, fringe benefits, better working conditions, and flexible scheduling all of which are associated with better mental health (for review, see Burgard and Lin, 2013).…”