Gender differences in work-family conflict and mental health of Swedish workers by childcare responsibilities: findings from the SLOSH cohort study.

Objectives: In Sweden, the number of working-aged women in employment is now almost equal to that of men. While this has many benefits, it presents challenges in organizing work and non-work responsibilities around children, which may impact employees` mental health.

Methods: Based on the Swedish Longitudinal Occupational Survey of Health (SLOSH) cohort study, we prospectively examined gender differences for the effects of work-family conflict and caring for children on mental health among Swedish workers. Mental health status was assessed using a brief (Hopkins) symptom checklist depression scale. We used information from three waves of data over five years (2014-2018) for 5846 women and 4219 men aged 20-64 at baseline. Linear fixed-effects analyses were performed examining within-person changes in work interfering with family (WFC) and family interfering with work (FWC) and associated changes in depressive symptoms by childcare intensity (0, 1-10, >10 hours/week) and sex.

Results: Changes in mean scores for WFC and FWC were associated with changes in depressive symptoms for men [no childcaring: WFC 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.49), FWC 0.70 (95% CI 0.43-0.96); childcaring >10 hours/week: WFC 1.39 (95% CI 0.53-2.25), FWC 1.24 (95% CI 0.27-2.21)] and women [no childcaring: WFC 1.57 (95% CI 1.41-1.73), FWC 1.04 (95% CI 0.79-1.30); childcaring >10 hours/week: WFC 2.04 (95% CI 1.36-2.73), FWC 1.57 (95% CI 0.82-2.32)].

Conclusion: Higher levels of WFC and FWC are associated with increased depressive symptoms in both men and women. The impact is greater for those with greater childcaring responsibilities intensity.