Gender Differences in Work and Well-Being: Effects of Exposure and Vulnerability

Although women are exposed to lower substantive complexity and lower job control, the effect of these dimensions of occupational self-direction are similar for men and women, suggesting that differential exposure to job stressors does not account for women's higher distress.

Abstract

Evidence regarding women's differential exposure to job stressors has accumulated; however, there is also evidence that women are more vulnerable to stressors. Using a sample of 994 employed Canadians, a job stress model that evaluates the differential exposure and vulnerability of men and women to job stressors is tested. The analysis considers the direct and moderating effects of occupational self-direction, job demands, and co-worker social support on distress. Results provide support for the conditional effects of job demands. Two dimensions of occupational self-direction, substantive complexity and routinization, interact with one measure of job demands. Although women are exposed to lower substantive complexity and lower job control, the effect of these dimensions of occupational self-direction are similar for men and women, suggesting that differential exposure to job stressors does not account for women's higher distress. Results indicate that, controlling for exposure, marital status, and income, women are more vulnerable to the negative effect of job routinization.