Aim: The aim of this study was to analyse the association between strain in domestic work and self-rated health among employed women in Sweden, using two different methods of measuring strain in domestic work. Methods: Questionnaire data were collected on health and living conditions in paid and unpaid work for employed women (n=1,417), aged 17-64 years. "Domestic job strain" was an application of the demand-control model developed by Karasek and Theorell, and "Domestic work equity and marital satisfaction" was measured by questions on the division of and responsibility for domestic work and relationship with spouse/cohabiter. Self-rated health was measured using the SF-36 Health Survey. Associations were analysed by bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses, and reported as standardized regression coefficients. Results: Higher strain in domestic work was associated with lower self-rated health, also after controlling for potential confounders and according to both strain measures. "Domestic work equity and marital satisfaction" showed for example negative associations with mental health β -0.211 (p<0.001), vitality β -0.195 (p<0.001), social function -0.132 (p<0.01) and physical role β -0.115 (p<0.01). The highest associations between "Domestic job strain" and SF-36 were found for vitality β -0.156 (p<0.001), mental health β -0.123 (p<0.001). Conclusions: Strain in domestic work, including perceived inequity in the relationship and lack of a satisfactory relationship with a spouse/cohabiter, was associated with lower self-rated health in this cross-sectional study. Future research needs to address the specific importance of strain in domestic work as a contributory factor to women's ill-health.

Women experience sickness absence more often than men, but few studies have addressed the possibility that the sick-leave period itself could be regarded as an exposure with possible positive or negative consequences on health. The aim was to explore the association between experience of sickness absence and self-rated physical health. Interview data from population samples in 1990 and 1995 of women born in 1935, 1945, 1955 and 1965 (n=231) were used. 'Any sick-leave' and 'Long sick-leave' were used as exposure measures and analyzed in relation to change in self-rated physical health with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting for age and prior sickness absence. Separate analyses were performed for women with psychiatric disorders (DSM-III-R) and different level of domestic responsibility. The proportion reporting good health at baseline and follow up were lower when experienced sickness absence compared to those who had not. For women exposed to long sick-leave, the OR for remained poor health were 4.1 (95% CI 1.1-15.4), and for women with psychiatric disorders, the OR for a change from poor to good health was 9.9 (1.7-58.5). Women with high level of domestic responsibility and exposed to long sick-leave, had increased ORs for both a positive and negative change in health. This explorative study contributes to the sparse knowledge of consequences on health of sickness absence. © 2009 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.