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Effects of work-related factors and work-family conflict on depression among Japanese working women living with young children

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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Objective

In a Japanese metropolis, we examined the effects of work-related factors and work-family conflict on depressive symptoms among working women living with young children.

Methods

Data was derived from women (n=501) who lived with at least one preschool child and worked for 20 hours or more per week. As work-related factors, we chose job pressure, skill underutilization, dissatisfaction with personal income, inflexible work schedule, job insecurity, and relationships in the workplace. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The effects of work-related factors and work-family conflict on depressive symptoms were explored by hierarchical regression analysis.

Results

Work-related factors except job pressure were significantly correlated with depressive symptoms. Multiple regression analyses revealed that women who had more frequent work-family conflict and more work-related stressors such as bad relationships in the workplace, job insecurity, and underutilization of skills were likely to have more depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Among women workers with young children, work-family conflict and various work-related factors such as perceived bad relationships at work, job insecurity, and underutilization of skills had a significant relationship with depressive symptoms. Much more research is needed to explore ways to support working mothers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, 565-0871, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Masako Seto & Kanehisa Morimoto

  2. Department of Human Sciences Faculty of Literature, Kobe Shinwa Women’s University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

    Soichiro Maruyama

Authors
  1. Masako Seto
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  2. Kanehisa Morimoto
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  3. Soichiro Maruyama
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Correspondence to Kanehisa Morimoto.

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Seto, M., Morimoto, K. & Maruyama, S. Effects of work-related factors and work-family conflict on depression among Japanese working women living with young children. Environ Health Prev Med 9, 220–227 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898103

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02898103

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