Time to share unpaid domestic labor! Prevalence of depressive symptoms among working women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30834/KJP.37.1.2024.428Keywords:
Working women, unpaid domestic labor, depression, depressive symptoms, PHQ-9Abstract
Background: The prevalence of depression is higher among women compared to men. The prevalence of depression is higher among married working women compared to married working men. Studies estimating the prevalence of depression among working women and quantitatively evaluating household work about depression in Kerala, India, are limited. The primary objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among working women residing in the field area of Medical College Health Unit – Pangappara, Thiruvananthapuram. The secondary objective was to study factors associated with depressive symptoms among the study population. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study for which 110 participants were selected using two-stage cluster sampling. The data was obtained over the phone due to the then-ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The data was analyzed with SPSS Version 26. Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among the study population was 14.5%, with a PHQ-9 score greater than or equal to five. The prevalence of depressive symptoms with a PHQ-9 score greater than or equal to ten was 4.5%. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was significantly higher among working women who had no one to help with household chores and childcare. Conclusion: The study quantifies the duration of unpaid domestic labor done by working women in addition to paid jobs. These unpaid domestic chores are often not shared by their husbands. The study signifies the need for gender equality and the sharing of domestic work and child care by male partners.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Mary Ajithra, Thekkethayyil Viswanathan Anilkumar, Gnanaseelan Kamalamma Libu (Author)
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