Women's Health and Working Life

New knowledge on women's health and working life can contribute to a basis for development and changes in health, safety and environment (HSE) systems and working life- and welfare programs.

Women's Health and Working Life
Phd-project by Marianne Gjellestad (2021-2024)

Background
Even though Norway is one of the world’s most equal oriented countries, working life is still divided by gender: Women have lower participation in working life than men, they work more part-time and they have higher sickness absence. Research has mostly focused on structural and cultural reasons for the gender differences, rather than the case that women and men have different biology and face different health challenges. In this project, we explore associations between women's health and female participation in working life, work ability and sickness absence. Further, we explore the associations’ impact on public health and women's living conditions.

Methodology
A systematic literature review provides a basis for investigation of the field. Further, we use qualitative methods to explore experiences: In-depth interviews with women in two samples (hospital nurses and high school teachers), focus groups with managers (from hospitals and high schools) and focus groups with general practitioners.

Results
The project's first article (2023) summarizes international research on women's health and working life over the last 10 years. Hormonal changes and life stages, pregnancy and reproduction, chronic disorders and the complexity of women's health affect participation, work ability and sickness absence. Knowledge gaps are identified on extent, mechanisms and consequences. Article two (experiences from nurses and managers in hospitals) is in publishing process, submitted September 2023. Article 3 (experiences from teachers and managers in high schools) will be submitted March 2024. Results will be presented at the conference.

Discussion
Our material shows associations between women's health and women's participation in working life, work ability and sickness absence. Women's health is currently addressed to a very limited extent in the systematic work with health, safety and environment (HSE), or in working life in general, and the research will thus contribute new knowledge.

Conclusion
The associations between women's health and participation in working life are complex. Exploring women's specific health challenges in this context provides new knowledge about women's occupational health, public health and women's living conditions. This is an ongoing research project, with doctoral thesis to be submitted in August 2024.

Implications for practice and health promotion
With the aim of developing a more inclusive working life, new knowledge on women's occupational health can contribute to a basis for changes in health, safety and environment (HSE) systems and working life- and welfare programs.