People with health problems, including substance abuse and addiction, tend to report higher levels of conflict in their personal and professional lives, a recent report has found.
Researchers from the University of Calgary, Canada, surveyed 4,553 working men and women, and asked them seven questions to assess work and family conflict. They also interviewed them to determine if they had experienced any mental disorders in the previous month.
It was found that nearly 17 per cent of those participating in the study had experienced some type of mental disorder in the past month, with four per cent suffering from mood disorders, 10 percent anxiety disorders, and six per cent reporting problems with substance abuse. Those with mental disorders were more likely to have high scores for work-family conflicts.
Those working in large metropolitan areas, people between 26 and 45 years old, married workers, those with higher education and salary levels, and as well as workers who put in more than 41 hours per week reported higher levels of work-family conflict.
In addition, single mothers with young children and women living in rural or small urban areas also seemed to have high work-family conflict scores. This reflected the increased responsibility and pressure that comes with starting a family, maintaining a household and trying to make ends meet.
However, the researchers found no statistically significant relationship between domestic roles, working hours and mental health problems. The study could not determine if work stress caused these problems or vice versa. Researchers called for more studies and analysis to better understand this relationship, focusing on the interrelation between psychosocial factors in and out of the workplace. The findings, they say, have significant implications for social policy and prevention of mental health problems.
thenews.com.pk