Work-life interference and health by race/ethnicity and sex in the United States

Abstract

Work-life interference has detrimental impacts on health outcomes. However, there are potential differences in these associations at the intersection of race/ethnicity and sex. The aim of this study was to examine whether race/ethnicity moderates the associations of work-life interference with health outcomes among women and men. Using data from the 2015 National Health Interview Survey on adults (age ≥ 18 years) who self-identified as non-Hispanic Asian, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic White in the U.S. (n = 17,492), the associations of work-life interference with self-rated health, psychological distress, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed using multiplicative interaction terms. Work-life interference was associated with higher log-odds of worse self-rated health (log-odds = 0.17, standard error (s.e.) = 0.06) and more psychological distress (β = 1.32, s.e. = 0.13) in men. Work-life interference was similarly positively associated with worse self-rated health (log-odds = 0.27, s.e. = 0.06) and psychological distress (β = 1.39, s.e. = 0.16) among women as well. A stronger association between work-life interference and psychological distress was observed among non-Hispanic Asian women compared to non-Hispanic White women (β = 1.42, s.e. = 0.52) and a stronger association between work-life interference and BMI was observed among non-Hispanic Black women compared to non-Hispanic White women (β = 3.97, s.e. = 1.93). The results suggest detrimental impacts of work-life interference on self-rated health and psychological distress. Yet, the variation in the associations of work-life interference with psychological distress and BMI among women suggest that an intersectional lens should be applied. Efforts to understand and address the negative effects of work-life interference on health should consider potentially unique associations across race/ethnicity and sex.