Investigating the Association Between Work Family Conflict and Major Depression Disorder

Tianying Wang*, Peter Butterworth, Amanda Cooklin, Lyndall Strazdins, Liana Leach

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Aiming to assess the association between work-family conflict (WFC) and major depressive disorder (MDD) within an Australian middle-aged cohort, addressing gaps in research concerning severe, clinically osisosed depression. 

Method: Utilizing data from Wave 5 of the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life project, this study investigates the relationship between WFC and MDD using logistic regression analysis. 

Results: The results showed that participants with high WFC had significantly increased odds of MDD (OR: 1.77, CI: 1.11-2.84) when evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 with a cutoff point of 10, after controlling for a wide range of covariates. 

Conclusions: The study highlights the complex relationship between WFC and depression in an Australian community cohort, revealing that while WFC is linked to severe, clinically important depressive symptom levels, its influence on clinically diagnosed MDD is less definitive.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e630-e641
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume67
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2025

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