Physical Health and Depression in Women by Employment Status and Role Satisfaction*

Ahn, Suk Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purposes of this study were to examine physical health and depression by women's employment status and role satisfaction, and to identify significant predictors for women's health status. METHOD: With a cross-sectional, correlational study design, a sample of study was consisted of 181 women who were employed or not employed whose child was attending an elementary school through convenience sampling. Data were collected with a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed by 2-test, t-test, 2-way ANCOVA and hierarchical multiple regression analysis using SPSS program. RESULT: Employed women had poorer physical health than that of nonemployed women and women who had greater satisfaction as a parent reported better physical health and lower level of depression than who had lower satisfaction with covariates. Predictor for better physical health after controlling for covariates was being not employed, greater satisfaction with worker's role if employed, and greater satisfaction with parent's role. Women who had lower level of depression reported greater satisfaction with their social roles, but occupancy of multiple roles and role satisfaction as worker were not related to depression. CONCLUSION: Role quantity and role quality seem to be very important factors to maintain better physical and psychological well-being in women.