Patterns of Gender Equality at Workplaces and Psychological Distress

Abstract

Research in the field of occupational health often uses a risk factor approach which has been criticized by feminist researchers for not considering the combination of many different variables that are at play simultaneously. To overcome this shortcoming this study aims to identify patterns of gender equality at workplaces and to investigate how these patterns are associated with psychological distress. Questionnaire data from the Northern Swedish Cohort (n = 715) have been analysed and supplemented with register data about the participants' workplaces. The register data were used to create gender equality indicators of women/men ratios of number of employees, educational level, salary and parental leave. Cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of gender equality at the workplaces. Differences in psychological distress between the clusters were analysed by chi-square test and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for individual socio-demographics and previous psychological distress. The cluster analysis resulted in six distinctive clusters with different patterns of gender equality at the workplaces that were associated to psychological distress for women but not for men. For women the highest odds of psychological distress was found on traditionally gender unequal workplaces. The lowest overall occurrence of psychological distress as well as same occurrence for women and men was found on the most gender equal workplaces. The results from this study support the convergence hypothesis as gender equality at the workplace does not only relate to better mental health for women, but also more similar occurrence of mental ill-health between women and men. This study highlights the importance of utilizing a multidimensional view of gender equality to understand its association to health outcomes. Health policies need to consider gender equality at the workplace level as a social determinant of health that is of importance for reducing differences in health outcomes for women and men.

Insights into Sexism: Male Status and Performance Moderates Female-Directed Hostile and Amicable Behaviour

“…Gender equality is currently one of the most hotly discussed topics across all scientific disciplines, political and religious ideologies, and workplaces [ 1 – 3 ]. Although many scientific discussions explore how we can overcome gender inequalities [ 3 , 4 ], they highlight how little we know about the factors that trigger sexist behaviour and the individuals that instigate it.…”

Production loss among employees perceiving work environment problems

“…Perceiving equality is associated with a decrease in production loss at several levels. A previous study showed that workplaces with gender equality had lower levels of psychological distress among the employees than did gender unequal workplaces (Elwér et al 2013 ). The pattern is the same as that shown in this study; that is, equality in the workplace is associated with fewer negative consequences.…”

Will a shrink make you richer? Gender differences in the effects of psychotherapy on labour efficiency

“…In this spirit and from a long-term perspective, Smith (2007) …nds that a better childhood health increases future income by 24.8%, while Schultz (2002) shows that improved childhood health care, which is used to instrument a one-centimeter increase in height, causes an 8% to 10% percent increase in wages in Ghana and Brazil for both men and women. With regards to mental health, Ettner et al (1997) …nd that men and women with mental disorders earn respectively 10% and 29% less than individuals with no mental disorders. Our estimates are therefore consistent with what has been found with regards to other aspects of health and income by recent literature.…”

“…According to psychology literature women exposed to gender discrimination are likely to develop mental health problems, as for example stress, depression, and anxiety (Landrine et al 1995, Elwér et al 2013. In this case the help of a psychotherapist can reduce mental distress, but it is very unlikely that the woman will gain much in terms of income, since the very source of the distress is discrimination in the workplace, which is not likely to improve as a result of psychotherapy, unless the woman changes workplace.…”

“…First, men tend to seek less help for health problems because of a stronger inner and outer stigma; this means that even if they have the same symptoms as their female counterparts, they will be less likely to consult a psychotherapist (Addis et al 2003, andMackenzie et al 2014). Second, discrimination against women is very common in the workplace and has a strong impact on women's health (Landrine et al 1995, Elwér et al 2013. If the source of mental health distress is gender discrimination in the workplace, it is less likely that an health improvement in the psychological status will cause an increase in income.…”