Abstract
Resources related to a good work-life balance may play an important role for the mental health of workers with involuntary working hours. This study investigates whether involuntary part-time (i.e., working part-time, but preferring full-time work) and involuntary full-time work (i.e., working full-time, but preferring part-time work) are associated with a deterioration of mental health and whether family- and work-related resources buffer this association. Data were obtained from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) with baseline information on involuntary working hours and resources. This information was linked to changes in mental health two years later. We found impaired mental health for involuntary full-time male workers and increased mental health for regular part-time female workers. The mental health of involuntary full-time male workers is more vulnerable, compared to regular full-time workers, when having high non-standard work hours and when being a partner (with or without children). Involuntary part-time work is detrimental to men’s mental health when doing a high amount of household work. This study is one of the first to emphasize the mental health consequences of involuntary full-time work. Avoiding role and time conflicts between family and work roles are important for the mental health of men too.
Highlights
A growing group of scholars argues that we need to consider the match between the actual and preferred working hours of workers when studying the relation between working hours and health [1,2]
We investigate the longitudinal relation of mental health and two involuntary working hour statuses, which we consider the most relevant in the contemporary labor market with workers seeking to find a satisfying balance between life roles: involuntary part-time employment, which is defined as working part-time but preferring to work full-time and involuntary full-time employment, which is defined as working full-time but preferring to work part-time
The aim of this study was to investigate whether involuntary part-time and involuntary full-time work is associated with a deterioration of mental health and whether this relation is buffered by family- and work-related resources
Summary
A growing group of scholars argues that we need to consider the match between the actual and preferred working hours of workers when studying the relation between working hours and health [1,2]. A mismatch can potentially negatively affect mental health, as it may signal a lack of control over the number of hours worked [3]. The reasons for wanting more or less hours may differ among workers (for instance, due to low income or high family responsibilities, etc.). These experiences (such as a sense of low income or high family responsibility) can be present without the workers reporting a working hours mismatch [4]. In line with social stress theory [5], such a situation can lead to chronic or repeated stress reactions with negative consequences for mental health
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