Gender, Work Control, and Stress: A Theoretical Discussion and an Empirical Test

Abstract

Within the field of occupational stress research the theoretical orientation, the research instruments, and the populations studied have largely been standardized on and restricted to male subjects. This article discusses the threats that single-sex studies pose to the valid assessment of the health effects of working life. Following this critique, an empirical examination of the differential distribution of work control is examined within a random sample (n = 13,203) of Swedish working males and females. Results indicate that even in a socially progressive society the labor force continues to be highly sex-segregated. Males, as a group, were found to have access to a larger and more diverse set of jobs than do females, as a group. Work control was found to be consistently higher among men than among women. The highest level of control was found among white-collar men in male-segregated jobs, while the lowest was found among blue-collar women in male-segregated jobs. It was notable that men had a higher level of control than women even in jobs that are traditionally considered "women's work." The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of future directions in the psychosocial work environment field.

The importance of low control at work and home on depression and anxiety: do these effects vary by gender and social class?

“…Men in the highest grade with low control at home were at higher risk for anxiety than men in lower grades while women in the lowest grade had a higher risk than women in higher grades. We conclude, as others have done before us (Arber, 1991;Hall, 1989), the identification to or measurement of only one role is too simplistic and does not take into account the different experiences women and men face at work and in the home. In the future, models need to be modified to incorporate work, home, and social position variables for men and women.…”

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function: Relative Contributions of Perceived Stress and Obesity in Women

“…Other studies have documented clear sex differences in perceptions of stress, 40 neuroendocrine responses to stress, 29,41 and neuroendocrine effects of differential body fat distribution. 42 Sex and racial differences in stress responses, 12,43 diurnal cortisol rhythm, 25 and CVD mortality 44 have also been documented.…”

Autonomie décisionnelle au travail

“…Ces résultats montrant qu'un faible niveau d'autonomie décision-nelle est associé aux caractéristiques d'âge, de sexe, de scolarité ou de catégorie professionnelle concordent avec ceux d'études antérieures (Dion et al ;Karasek et Theorell, 1990 ;Hall, 1989 ;Braun et Hollander, 1988 ;Karasek et al, 1981). Cependant, à l'exception de la pratique d'activités physiques de loisir chez les femmes, on ne discerne aucune association entre l'adoption de certains comportements et le niveau d'autonomie décisionnelle au travail.…”