FAMILY WORK DEMANDS, EMPLOYMENT DEMANDS AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The effects of psychological demands, work autonomy and social support on psychological well-being are evaluated in a sample of employed wom en with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two hundred sixty-seven employed wo men with a diagnosis of RA were recruited from a national random sampl e of private rheumatology practices. Women were interviewed by telepho ne and data were obtained on demographic variables, health status, dem ands in paid and family work, autonomy in paid and family work, social support and depressive symptoms. Women reported relatively high level s of psychological demands in both paid and family work, with time con straints being the most frequent problem. Women also had relatively hi gh levels of autonomy in family work Hierarchical regression analysis showed that family demands appeared to be more important than paid wor k demands in psychological well-being. High autonomy in family work se emed to mediate the effects of family demands. Having higher social su pport reduced the effects of work demands on depressive symptoms in em ployed women with RA.