PAID WORK, UNPAID WORK AND SOCIAL SUPPORT - A STUDY OF THE HEALTH OF MALE AND FEMALE NURSES

Paid work, unpaid work in the home and social support are important el ements of the social production of health and illness, though their co mbined effects on both women and men have only recently become a focus of research. This paper examines their association with the health pr oblems of nurses, presenting data from a survey of a proportional rand om sample of 2285 male and female nurses registered in the Province of Ontario. The data are first analysed for the full sample and then mul tiple regression analyses are run separately for male and female Regis tered Nurses. The demands of paid work (overload, exposure to hazards) , unpaid work (time pressures, caring for a dependent adult) and overa ll stress in life are associated with greater health problems. There i s also evidence of significant links between social support and health . A poor relationship with a supervisor is associated with health prob lems. On the other hand, enjoying a confiding relationship with a frie nd and haying up to 4 children reduces the likelihood of experiencing hearth problems. The features of nursing associated with fewer health problems are challenge, satisfaction with work and working under 20 ho urs a week. Several common themes emerge in the analyses of women and men: overload, hazard exposure, satisfaction with work, having 3-4 chi ldren and level of overall stress in life. Yet the models are also ver y different and point to the need for further analyses of the social p roduction of health problems in relation to gender. They also suggest that female nurses, in particular, may suffer the effects of restructu ring in the health care sector. Workload issues are especially importa nt for women. Younger women, those reporting time pressures and caring for a dependent adult are more likely to report health problems. Havi ng a confiding relationship with a friend is associated with fewer hea lth problems for women. Among men, those who dislike housework are mor e likely to experience health problems. Satisfaction with work and ove rall stress in life were associated with health problems for both men and women, though there may be gender differences in what generates sa tisfaction and stress. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.