Do Females and Males Experience Occupational Stress Differently? Insights From a Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Occupational stress significantly impacts worker well-being, safety, and productivity.
• Existing research presents conflicting findings on gender differences in occupational stress.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective workplace interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze recent literature on gender differences in occupational stress.
• To identify specific types of occupational stress (physical, psychological, safety, work) where gender disparities exist.
• To explore potential moderators, such as region, influencing the gender-occupational stress relationship.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of 18 studies (20 records) from the past decade.
• Meta-analysis techniques applied to synthesize quantitative data.
• Categorization of occupational stress into physical, psychological, safety, and work-related components.

Main Results:

• Female workers reported significantly higher levels of work stress compared to male workers (Cohen's d = -0.119, p < 0.001).
• Male workers reported significantly higher levels of safety stress compared to female workers (Cohen's d = 0.106, p = 0.010).
• Geographical region emerged as a significant moderator influencing gender differences in occupational stress (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Distinct occupational stress profiles exist for male and female workers.
• Interventions should be tailored to address gender-specific stressors in the workplace.
• Addressing these differences can enhance overall worker performance, safety, and well-being.