Self-reported health among employees in relation to sex segregation at work sites

Despite the high level of sex segregation of the labour market in Sweden and other countries, there is little knowledge on the association between sex segregation and ill-health. The aim of this study was to study associations between self-reported ill-health among women and men and the level of numerical sex segregation at their work sites and psychosocial work conditions.

A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 10,000 employed persons in the County of Ostergötland, Sweden. The questionnaire covered the level of numerical sex segregation at the work site, work organisation and conditions, ill-health, and demography. The proportions of individuals at sex-integrated and sex-segregated work sites reporting frequent ill-health symptoms were calculated and compared using Chi-square test statistics. Prevalence's of physical and psychosocial work aspects were calculated. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between sex segregation and other aspects of the work situation and health.

Among the men, 69% worked at male-dominated work sites, 16% at female-dominated, and 15% at sex-integrated work sites. Among the women, the equivalent rates were 8%, 75%, and 17%, respectively. Sex segregation was associated with all self-reported ill-health symptoms among the men, also when controlling for possible confounders. Other variables that were associated with self-reported ill-health symptoms were demands at work, negative expectations, and sickness presence.

The present study generates sufficient findings to suggest that the link between sex segregation at work sites and ill-health is an important area that merits further attention.