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Work–family conflict, health services and medication use among dual‐income couples in Europe

Bibliographic Data

ID8020060
AuthorsWendy Christiaens (0000-0003-4264-2207, Department of Sociology Ghent University Belgium), Piet Bracke (0000-0002-9477-3236, Department of Sociology Ghent University Belgium)
Year2013
Volume36
Issue3
Pages319-337
Publication date2013-09-23
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSociology of Health & Illness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0141-9889 • E-ISSN: 1467-9566
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-9566.12049
PMID24111523
OpenAlexW2052333210
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited38

Combination pressure or work–life imbalance is linked to adverse health. However, it remains unclear how work–family conflict is related to healthcare utilisation. Does work–family conflict function as a barrier or as a facilitator in relation to the use of health services and prescription medication? Lack of time may prevent people from visiting a doctor when they feel unwell. However, combination pressure can also be expected to intensify the use of health services, as the need for a quick fix is prioritised. Further, do women and men differ in their susceptibility to medicalisation and time pressure resulting from work–life imbalance? This article investigates the use of health services and prescription medication of dual‐income couples with children, based on data from 23 countries in the European Social Survey round 2 (N women = 3755; N men = 3142). It was found that medical services and prescription medications are used more frequently in dual‐income couples experiencing work‐to‐family spillover, but for women only this is irrespective of their self‐reported health. Family‐to‐work spillover does not result in increased health service or medication use for either men or women. While women opt for a medical response to work–life imbalance, men's reluctance to seek formal health support is confirmed

Facilitator · Family medicine · Medical prescription · Psychiatry · Spillover effect · Work (physics · Work–family conflict · Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Social Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Gerontology

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Unique citing works9
Citations per year0,82
Citation span2015 - 2025 (11)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 9
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