Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health

The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine (대한예방의학회)
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Multiple Roles and Health among Korean Women

여성의 다중역할에 따른 건강 차이

  • Cho, Su-Jin (Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service) ;
  • Jang, Soong-Nang (Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University) ;
  • Cho, Sung-Il (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 조수진 (건강보험심사평가원 심사평가정보센터) ;
  • 장숙랑 (서울대학교 보건환경연구소) ;
  • 조성일 (서울대학교 보건대학원)
  • Published : 2008.09.30
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Abstract

Objectives : Most studies about multiple roles and women's health suggested that combining with paid job, being married and having children was more likely to improve health status than in case of single or traditional roles. We investigated whether there was better health outcome in multiple roles among Korean women coinciding with previous studies of other nations. Methods : Data were from the 2005 Korea National Health & Nutritional Examination Survey, a subsample of women aged 25-59 years (N=2,943). Health status was assessed for self-rated poor health, perceived stress and depression, respectively based on one questionnaire item. The age-standardized prevalence of all health outcomes were calculated by role categories and socioeconomic status. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of self rated health, perceived stress, and depression with multiple roles adjusted for age, education, household income, number of children and age of children. Results : Having multiple roles with working role was not associated with better health and psychological wellbeing. Compared to those with traditional roles, employed women more frequently experienced perceived stress, with marital and/or parental roles. Non-working single mothers suffered depression more often than women with traditional roles or other role occupancy. Socioeconomic status indicators were potent independent correlates of self-rated health and perceived stress. Conclusions : Employment of women with other roles did not confer additional health benefit to traditional family responsibility. Juggling of work and family responsibility appeared more stressful than traditional unemployed parental and marital role in Korean women.

Keywords

References

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