1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of this study is to examine how work and family conditions operate as potentially gendered antecedents of depression in the Quebec (Canada) working population.» (p. 160) «In this study, we propose a conceptual model to explain the differences in depressive symptoms between women and men workers. It assumes a simultaneous influence of work and family stressors on depressive symptoms and a mediating role of WFC [work-to-family conflict]-FWC [family-to-work conflict] on these relationships.» (p. 161)

Questions/Hypothèses :
Two hypotheses were tested in this study, first: «The vulnerability hypothesis posits that women react more intensely than men to stressful conditions. [Second,] the exposure hypothesis posits that the distribution of psychosocial risks and resources in the workplace and in the family is gendered.» (p. 161)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Data were derived from the Salveo Study […] aimed at evaluating the contribution of work, family, individual characteristics and social network to workers’ experience of mental health problems (Marchand et al., 2015). They were collected in 2009-2012 over a random sample of 63 workplaces of the Quebec (Canada) private sector. [T]he worker sample size was n=1935 with 48.9% being female.» (p. 162)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Our results supported both hypotheses, but the differential exposure hypothesis seemed to obtain a greater empirical support. Overall, only WFC was found playing a mediating role between work-family stressors and depression. Regarding the vulnerability hypothesis, the results revealed only one gendered pathway and it concerns the relationship between WFC and depression. Even if this relationship is significant for men, the association is significantly stronger with depressive symptoms for women. […] The differential exposure hypothesis appears here to obtain greater support. After accounting for work, family stressors, and WFC stressors, sex categories are no longer significantly associated with depressive symptoms. This result supports the conclusion that women’s higher rate of depression is intrinsically linked to their different social experiences as shaped by a gendered social structure and gendered organizations (Bird and Rieker, 2008). Our results specifically pointed out some gendered work conditions and WFC that seem to explain why men and women experienced differential levels of depressive symptoms.» (p. 164)