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Young working adults who perceive higher levels of work-life conflict (WLC) may have elevated levels of stress and depressive symptoms, reports a study in the May issue of the
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
The report provides "updated evidence of why WLC should be considered a relevant factor in mental health for individuals in today’s workforce," write Lotte Thorup, MHS, of Goedstrup Hospital, Herning, Denmark, and colleagues. They analyzed data from an ongoing population-based study (The West Jutland Cohort Study) of factors affecting health and well-being in young people.
The analysis included 1,296 participants who were 28 years old in 2017, with follow-up data on 679 participants who were 31 years old in 2021. Respondents completed validated questionnaires measuring WLC, stress, and depressive symptoms. Work-life conflict refers to conflicts between social roles in work and non-work life.
Higher scores for WLC were associated with increased stress and depressive symptoms. For both women and men, each one-point increase in WLC score was associated with higher scores for both stress and depression. The findings were little affected by adjustment for other factors, such as social support, employment type, living situation, socioeconomic status, and shift work.
The association between WLC and stress was strongest in a cross-sectional analysis of 2017 data only, with a tendency toward a stronger association in men. Analysis of 2021 follow-up data showed weaker associations: at that time, the association of WLC with depressive symptoms was significant only for women.
The study adds to previous evidence that WLC may contribute to the alarming increases in mental disorders reported in recent years.
"Work-life conflict should be considered a contributing factor in mental health of individuals in today's workforce," Ms. Thorup and coauthors conclude. "Implementing targeted interventions to mitigate WLC among people in the labor market may therefore serve as a useful approach to preventing mental health issues."
About the Author
Coauthor Karin Biering may be contacted for interviews at Karin.Biering@goedstrup.rm.dk