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Working in gender-dominated occupations and depressive symptoms: findings from the two age cohorts of the lidA study
[Geschlechterdominierte Berufe und Depressivität: Ergebnisse zu den zwei Alterskohorten der lidA-Studie]

Author

Listed:
  • Silke Tophoven

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB))

  • Jean-Baptist du Prel

    (Ulm University)

  • Richard Peter

    (Ulm University)

  • Veronika Kretschmer

    (Bergische University of Wuppertal)

Abstract

Gender-specific differences in the frequency of depression to the disadvantage of women have been known for decades. In Germany, there is evidence that the prevalence of mental disorders also differs by occupation. The present study investigates whether for women working in male-dominated occupations and for men working in female-dominated occupations is related to depressive symptoms independently from other factors like work stress and work-family conflict. Special attention is paid to gender differences. Moreover, women are distinguished according to their working time (full-time or not). We use data from the first wave of the lidAstudy for our analyses. We make use of the applied Beck Depression Inventory, the effort-reward imbalance scales as well as the work-family conflict scale. Occupational gender segregation is defined as a share of 80 % of men and women per occupation, respectively. For women, the results of the multivariate analyses show an independent relationship between depressive symptoms and working in male-dominated occupations. Furthermore, significant interactions between occupational gender segregation and work stress are observed in both men and women regarding depressive symptoms.

Suggested Citation

  • Silke Tophoven & Jean-Baptist du Prel & Richard Peter & Veronika Kretschmer, 2015. "Working in gender-dominated occupations and depressive symptoms: findings from the two age cohorts of the lidA study [Geschlechterdominierte Berufe und Depressivität: Ergebnisse zu den zwei Altersk," Journal for Labour Market Research, Springer;Institute for Employment Research/ Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), vol. 48(3), pages 247-262, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jlabrs:v:48:y:2015:i:3:d:10.1007_s12651-014-0165-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12651-014-0165-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Yue Qian & Wen Fan, 2019. "Men and Women at Work: Occupational Gender Composition and Affective Well-Being in the United States," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(7), pages 2077-2099, October.
    2. Gueltzow, Maria & Bijlsma, Maarten J. & van Lenthe, Frank J. & Myrskylä, Mikko, 2023. "The role of labor market inequalities in explaining the gender gap in depression risk among older US adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gender; Occupational gender segregation; Depressive symptoms; Work stress; Work-family conflict;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

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