Work-Home Strains, Psychological Distress and Sickness Absence among Mothers - a Prospective Study of Mechanisms and Protective Factors, 2011

This study has examined how mental health, absence due to illness, working factors and family factors are connected. The focus has been on work-home conflicts and absence due to illness. As studies in this field has turned out to result in mixed findings, in addition to being exposed to selection bias, some of the purpose of the project was to find out how different familial factors, such as the quality of the couple's relationship, problematic relationship with children, and conflict between work and home, interact with absence due to illness of Norwegian parents.

Data generated in this project are selfraporting questionaire data from mothers, fathers and children that has been carried out from 1993 to 2011 and are a part of the TOPP-study “”Trivsel og OPPvekst i barndom og ungdomstid”.

The TOPP study has through 8 rounds collected questionaire data concerning children and young people and their families. The study examines development paths to wellbeing and good mental health as well as mental illnesses and the use of alcohol among children and young people. In addition, mental health, couple relations, divorce, burnout and absence due to illness were examined among mothers and fathers.

In this sub project concerning the parents work-home conflict, mental health and absence due to illness we have used self-reporting data about symptoms of anxiety and depression, work control, demands and support, days if anbsence due to illness, health factors, couple relations, burnouts, relationship with children, personality, coping and family stress / strains and so on.

For further information about ”Work-Home Strains, Psychological Distress and Sickness Absence among Mothers - a Prospective Study of Mechanisms and Protective Factors, 2011”, please contact the principal investigator.