Health Australia CU- A new study has found that unpaid labor is linked with poorer mental health in employed women, but the effects are less seen in men.
A review conducted by the University of Melbourne, which was a 1st to analyze findings in relation to gender associated between unpaid labor and its impact on mental health.
A total of 14 studies with over 66,800 individuals globally, where 5 evaluated unpaid labor that included care, 9 evaluated housework time and, of these, 4 also examined childcare.
The findings indicated that on top of financial obstacles females experience in handling a bulk of the unpaid labor globally had an impact of their mental health as well.
From 11 of the 14 results evaluated, self-reporting by females of elevated of depressive or psychological distress with increasing unpaid labor demands was indicated. Males only reported 3 out of a possible 12 results that indicated any down side.
Jen Ervin who led the study said “We found substantial gender differences in exposure to unpaid labor, with women uniformly doing more in every geographical and time setting – in more than 35 countries – around the world,”.
Ervin further stated that the dual hardship of paid and unpaid work exposures females to an elevated risk for overload, time poverty and weaker mental health, further stating that females regularly exchange paid work hours to meet their extremely large unpaid labor duties.
She further emphasized that study indicated the requirement for more focus and meaningful steps to bring about value in the area of unpaid labor.
The study also indicated the need for policy changes in universal childcare and bringing about flexible working arrangements for men.
There has much focus in recent times of corporations worldwide being less flexible for men in granting paternity leave and less leave for them to spend time with children. Such environments are likely to further burden families.
Researchers indicated the need for further studies to understand the dimensions of unpaid labor.
