Authors
Dugan AG; Barnes-Farrell JL; Fortinsky RH; Cherniack MG
Source
J Appl Gerontol 2020 Apr; 39(4):357-367
Abstract
Eldercare demands (ECD) may result in stress when finite resources needed to fulfill life roles (i.e., family, work) become scarce. ECD may be acquired, continue over time, or be relinquished. They thus may represent acute stress (immediate, severe) or chronic stress (persistent, milder). Workers at six U.S. manufacturing companies completed surveys (N = 520). ECD were operationalized as providing assistance to an adult aged 65+ years due to disability or illness. Workers were categorized into four ECD groups (persistent, relinquished, acquired, and none), and we examined the ECD groups' association with person-centric and work-centric outcomes. Respondents with acquired ECD had worse mental health and greater depressive symptoms than those with none, and those with persistent ECD had greater work stress and family-work conflict than those with none. Findings suggesting that acute stress is more related to person-centric outcomes and chronic stress is more related to work-centric outcomes could inform development of tailored interventions.
Keywords
Mental health; Sleep disorders; Stress-related illnesses; Manufacturing; Families;
Author Keywords: manufacturing workers; informal caregiving; eldercare; conservation of resources; mental health; depressive symptoms; sleep quality; work stress; family-work conflict; job performance
Contact
Alicia G. Dugan, Department of Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06030, USA
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
adugan@uchc.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-008929
Priority Area
Manufacturing
Source Name
Journal of Applied Gerontology
Performing Organization
University of Connecticut School of Medicine/Dentristy, Farmington
