Work-family spillover stress predicts health outcomes across two decades

Work is a common source of stress for many adults, arising from situations that occur at work (e.g., job demands) as well as the worries and responsibilities that people take home with them (negative work-family spillover). Over time, work-related stress may impact physical health.

The current study prospectively examined the effects of job demands and negative work-family spillover (NWFS) on three self-reported physical health measures.

Participants in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey (N = 4200) reported their job demands and negative work-family spillover at wave 1. They also reported on their health across three waves of data collection.

Higher levels of NWFS at baseline were related to a higher number of self-reported chronic illnesses, greater functional limitation, and poorer self-rated health approximately 10 and 20 years later. In contrast, job demands were unrelated to any health indices at baseline or at the approximately 10- and 20-year follow-ups.

Findings suggest that NWFS is a unique form of stress with long-lasting and detrimental effects on physical health.