Health Inequalities Related to Psychosocial Working Conditions in Europe

89 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2023

See all articles by Insa Backhaus

Insa Backhaus

Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf

Krisztina Gero

Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Students

Nico Dragano

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Clare Bambra

Newcastle University - Population Health Sciences Institute

Date Written: June 29, 2023

Abstract

This report presents results on psychosocial working conditions and health inequalities using data from the 2010 and 2015 European Working Conditions Surveys and the second wave of the 2020 Living, Working and Covid-19 survey. In brief, mean WHO-5 mental health scores declined between 2010 and 2020, indicating an increase in symptoms of depression during the pandemic. Regarding psychosocial working conditions, we found that the prevalence of job insecurity was slightly lower in the 2020 survey compared with 2010, while the prevalence of temporary contracts increased during the same period. We also found that the percentage of employees feeling that they do not have enough time to get their work done, working in their free time, worrying about work outside of working hours and experiencing work–life conflicts increased over time. Comparisons over time must be interpreted with caution, however, because of the different sampling methods of the studies included here. Educational level appears to be a prominent factor associated with intersectional inequalities in mental health at work, both before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. Across psychosocial working conditions, primarily young women (18–35 years of age) with a primary education presented worse mental health outcomes than their male counterparts or employees with a higher level of education, in general.

Keywords: working conditions, health, psychosocial risks, work environment, well being, mental health, gender, occupational health, survey, EU countries

Suggested Citation

Backhaus, Insa and Gero, Krisztina and Dragano, Nico and Bambra, Clare, Health Inequalities Related to Psychosocial Working Conditions in Europe (June 29, 2023). ETUI Research Paper - Report 2023.07, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4495082 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4495082

Insa Backhaus (Contact Author)

Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf

Universitaetsstrasse 1
Duesseldorf, DE NRW 40225
Germany

Krisztina Gero

Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Students

United States

Nico Dragano

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf
Germany

Clare Bambra

Newcastle University - Population Health Sciences Institute ( email )

Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
United Kingdom

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