Work Stressors, Gender Differences and Psychosomatic Health Problems

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Abstract
Two consistent problems in research assessing the work stress/health relationship are identified, namely, the tendency (a) to ignore possible gender differences in the association between work stressors and health, and (b) to assess work status (i.e., whether an individual is employed or not) rather than the experience of unique work stressors. This study focuses on the association between health problems and work involvement, job satisfaction and role conflict for 91 males and 56 females, all in full-time employment with at least one dependent child. Role conflict and job dissatisfaction predicted health problems of females, but not of males, while work involvement was not associated with health for either gender. The role conflict/health relationship differed significantly for males and females, although the job dissatisfaction/health relationship did not. The dichotomy between emotional outcomes arising from work (e.g., job dissatisfaction and role conflict) and intrinsic work aspects (e.g., job involvement); the importance of gender role expectations on the working mother and father; and the differential experiences of work of males and females are suggested as possible factors accounting for the different patterns of relationships. Some suggestions for further research are offered.

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