Changes in work-related stressors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: differences by gender and parental status

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic changed people’s working conditions worldwide and research suggests increases in work stressors. However, it is not known to what extent these changes differ by gender or parental status. In the present study, we investigate trends in work stressors and whether these differ by gender and parental status. Methods We used cross-sectional time series data of the European Working Conditions Survey of 2015 and Living, Working and COVID-19 survey of spring 2020 to examine trends in work stressors by gender and parental status. Work stressors were working in leisure time, lack of psychological detachment and work–life conflict. We applied three-way multilevel regressions reporting prevalence ratios and reported predicted probabilities and average marginal effects to show trends and differences in changes in work stressors. Results Our multilevel regression results showed elevated prevalence ratios during the pandemic for working leisure time (PR: 1.43, 95% CI 1.34–1.53), psychological detachment (PR: 1.70, 95% CI 1.45–1.99) and work–life conflict (PR: 1.29, 95% CI 1.17–1.43) compared to before the pandemic. Except for working in leisure time, the increase was more significant among women and mothers. The proportion of work–life conflict in 2020 was 20.7% (95% CI 18.7–22.9) for men and 25.8% (95% CI 24.0–27.6) for women, equalling a difference of 5.1% (p < 0.001). Conclusions There is evidence that work stressors increased disproportionately for women and mothers. This needs to be monitored and addressed to prevent widening gender inequalities in the quality of work.

Work-related stress is associated with low work ability, but not with poor self-rated health: A cross-sectional study in primary healthcare

“…The qualitative meaning of the response categories was used to determine the cut-off, where categories 1 through 3 have a positive connotation to health and 4 through 5 have a negative. The models were adjusted for gender, age, and educational level, which we assumed would be factors influencing work stress, based on previous studies [16,18,20]. To allow for assessment of each variable's effect on the model, a stepwise approach was used.…”

“…Regarding gender, women are more likely than men to experience mental health problems due to work-related stress [17]. Men and women have different exposures to stressors, and research from the COVID-19 period demonstrated increased stressors for women and mothers in terms of work-life conflict [18]. However, a recent metaanalysis showed no support for gender differences in the experience of work-related stress [19], suggesting that the type of occupation and gender balance at the workplace need further investigation as moderating factors.…”