Employment status, psycholocigal distress and gender - population-based cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Our aim was to investigate factors contributing to psychological distress in the working population, with a special reference to non-stardard employment statuses and gender. Methods Questionnaire data was from the nationally representative Finnish Regional Health and Well-being Study from 2012-2016 (aged 20 +, n = 37,689, response rate 53%), Psychological distress was assessed using MHI-5 (cut-off value < =52). We studied the following factors potentially associated with psychological distress: sociodemographic, family-related, work-related, work-family balance, lifestyle-related and given and received support. We used logistic regression analysis to examine association between the factors and the psychological distress. Results Women reported more psychological distress than men (12.1% vs. 9.8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Women and men in part-time jobs (14.9% and 15%, respectively, p < 0.001) and women and men in fixed-term contracts (14% and 11.8%, respectively, p < 0.001) reported more psychological distress than others. After adjusting for sociodemographic, work, family and work-family balance variables, women in part-time jobs (OR 1.23, CI95% 1.01-1.51) reported more distress than women working full-time, and women on fixed-term contracts reported more distress than women on permanent contracts (OR 1.26, CI95% 1.05-1.50). Men in part-time work did not report statistically significantly more distress than men in full-time, but men on fixed-term contracts reported more distress than on permanent contracts (OR 1.31, CI95% 1.00-1.72). The effect of part-time or fixed-term work lost statistical significance when lifestyle-related risk factors, social participation and support were taken into account. Conclusions Working on fixed-term contracts was associated with psychological distress in both genders and working part-time only in women. However, this may be confouded by having more other risk factors of and less protective factors against psychological distress. Key messages • Non-standard work was associated with higher psychological distress after adjusting for sociodemographic, family- and work-related and lifestyle factors in women and fixed-term contracts also in men. • Access to occupational health services should be ensured for those working on non-standard contracts.