Boundary-Spanning Work Demands and Their Consequences for Guilt and Psychological Distress
- Paul Glavin, Department of Sociology, 725 Spadina Ave., University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2J4 Canada E-mail: paul.glavin{at}utoronto.ca
Abstract
Using data from a national survey of working Americans (Work, Stress, and Health Survey; N = 1,042), the authors examine the associations between boundary-spanning work demands and self-reported feelings of guilt and distress. The authors document gender differences in the emotional and mental health consequences of boundary-spanning work demands, as indexed by the frequency of receiving work-related contact outside of normal work hours. Specifically, the authors observe that frequent work contact is associated with more feelings of guilt and distress among women only. Analyses also demonstrate that guilt accounts for the positive association between the frequency of work contact and distress among women. Statistical adjustments for levels of guilt reduce the positive association between frequent work contact and distress among women to nonsignificance. The findings underscore the importance of focusing on gender and emotions in work-family interface processes, as well as their implications for psychological health.
Article Notes
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Paul Glavin is a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the intersection of work and family life and the role of communication technology in these processes. His dissertation examines the antecedents of work-family role blurring and its consequences for psychological well-being and family role functioning.
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Scott Schieman is professor of sociology at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the sociological study of stress processes and mental health. He recently received funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to study work and family stress and its long-term impact on health in Canada.
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Sarah Reid is a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto. Her research interests focus on the career trajectories of employed women over the life course. Her dissertation examines the associations between job changes, labor market intermittency, and women’s occupational status attainment over time.
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The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article: This study was supported by grant R01 OH008141 from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control (Scott Schieman, principal investigator).
- © American Sociological Association 2011
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