| This study examined the effects of job characteristics, work-family conflict and coping on depression and anxiety in married working women.; 721 married full-time nurses were randomly selected from hospitals in Taiwan. 531 of the 721 nurses volunteered to complete the study instruments: a Biographical Inventory, the Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Job Characteristics Questionnaire, the Life Stress Scale, and the Coping Style Scale.; The data were analyzed by using factor analyses, correlation matrices, multiple regression analyses, t-tests and ANOVA. The results indicated that: (a) job autonomy and support characteristics were negatively, while job demand was positively correlated with depression and anxiety at significant levels; (b) all the job characteristic, work-family conflict and coping factors cumulatively explained 27% of the variation in depression and 24% in anxiety; (c) the significant predictors of depression were all the work-family conflict factors--'work interfering with family', 'overload', 'family interfering with work', and 'work interfering with child-rearing'--and the coping factor--'facing vs avoiding a problem'; (d) the significant predictors of anxiety were these same factors and one job characteristic factor--'job demand'; (e) coping was a moderator in the relationships between job support characteristic and depression (/anxiety); (f) the relationships between the categorical variables--work shift, workplace, the reason for working, age of the youngest child--and depression (/anxiety) also were statistically significant. These findings demonstrated that the effects of employment on women's mental health (anxiety and depression) not only depend on the nature of the job, but also on the level of work-family conflict, and the coping style.; The implications of this study for researchers, educators and health professionals are discussed. A number of interventions, such as support groups and workshops for stress management, as well as flexible work schedules, part-time jobs and paternity leave, are suggested. Moreover, the impact of women's welfare on the well-being of their families, and the economy of the society as a whole are stressed; and societal consciousness-raising and education as to the contemporary realities of women's lives and their multiple roles are suggested. |
