Comparing health-related quality of life of employed women and housewives: a cross sectional study from southeast Iran

Abstract

BackgroundQuality of life differs for different people in different situations and is related to one's self-satisfaction with life. Considering the role of women in family and social health and the specific cultural characteristics of our province, we aimed to compare the quality of life of employed women with housewives in Zahedan, Iran.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out during 2009–2010 in Zahedan, Iran. The sample consisted of 110 housewives and 110 employed women selected randomly from ten health care centers. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the SF-36. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare quality of life in housewives and employed women while controlling for age, education and income.ResultsThe mean (±SD) age of participants was 33.87± 8.95 years. Eighty-eight women (40%) had a university degree with a mean (±SD) official education of 10.8 (±4.9) years. The results indicated that employed women scored higher than housewives in all measures except for physical functioning. The differences were found to be remarkable for vitality, mental health and role emotional. However, after controlling for age, education and family income, none of differences reached significant level.ConclusionAfter controlling for potential confounders, the findings from this study indicated that there were no significant differences in quality of life between employed women and housewives. However, employed women scored higher on the SF-36, especially on the role emotional, vitality, and mental health. The findings suggest that associations exist between some aspects of health-related quality of life and employment. Indeed improving health-related quality of life among housewives seems essential.

Relationship Between Health-Promoting Lifestyle and Quality of Life in Women With Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

“…In contrast, a study suggested that employed women are not superior to housewives except for physical dimension (28). In this case, a study suggests that there is no significant difference between employed women and housewives in terms of the quality of life; however, the study recommended that measures be taken to improve housewives' quality of life (29). Irregular menstrual cycles were also a predictor of quality of life in these women, as women with menstrual cycle disorders experienced lower quality of life than women with normal menstrual cycles.…”

Ser trabalhadora remunerada ou dona de casa associa-se à qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde?

“…Na análise ajustada não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na QVRS entre trabalhadoras remuneradas e donas de casa com renda familiar per capita maior ou igual a 3 salários mínimos. Já no estrato intermediário, com renda maior que 1 e menor que 3 salários mínimos, as donas de casa apresentaram menores médias de escores nas escalas de aspectos emocionais (β = -8,6), aspectos sociais (β = -7,4), saúde mental (β = -7,4) e no componente mental (β = -4,4 estudos realizados no Irã comparando a QVRS entre trabalhadoras remuneradas e donas de casa não encontraram diferenças entre estes dois segmentos, após os ajustes por variáveis socioeconômicas 12,13 . Mas, é preciso considerar que as divergências dos resultados podem decorrer de particularidades culturais relacionadas ao papel da mulher na sociedade e ao grau de valorização de sua inserção no processo de trabalho.…”

“…Ainda que existam algumas evidências sobre o benefício do trabalho para a saúde das mulheres, são incipientes e com resultados controversos os estudos que analisaram a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) 7,8,9,10,11,12,13 . Para a avaliação da QVRS os estudos têm frequentemente utilizado o instrumento The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36), que produz medidas do impacto das condições de saúde/doença sobre a funcionalidade do organismo, o bem-estar físico e mental, e o desempenho em atividades sociais 14,15,16 .…”

“…Segundo um estudo longitudinal realizado na Holanda com mulheres desempregadas, a recolocação no mercado de trabalho contribuiu significativamente para melhores médias de todas as escalas do SF-36, após os ajustes por idade, etnia, escolaridade, duração do benefício do seguro desemprego e condições de saúde prévias 11 . Contudo, pesquisas realizadas no Irã não identificaram diferenças na QVRS entre trabalhadoras e donas de casa, após ajuste por idade, escolaridade e renda familiar 12,13 . A ausência de associação entre QVRS e trabalho constatada por esses estudos não pode ser generalizada, levando-se em conta a especificidade da condição feminina nos diversos contextos culturais.…”

The effectiveness of existential psychotherapy on attitude to life and self-flourishing of educated women homemakers

“…[6] According to the results of some studies, the quality of life of employed women is better than nonemployed women. [78]…”