Social conflicts more likely in mentally ill

Individuals with health problems, including substance abuse or addiction, report higher levels of conflict between work and their family lives. Researchers from the University of Calgary, Canada, surveyed 4,553 working men and women, and asked them seven questions to assess work and family conflict. They also interviewed them to determine if they had experienced any mental disorders in the previous month. It was found that nearly 17 percent of the study participants had experienced some type of mental disorder in the past month, with 4 percent having mood disorders, 10 percent having anxiety disorders, and 6 percent having substance abuse problems. Those with mental disorders were more likely to have high scores for work-family conflicts. Those who worked in large metropolitan areas, workers between 26 and 45 years old, married workers, those with higher education and salary levels, and workers who put in more than 41 hours per week reported higher levels of work-family conflict. In addition, single mothers with young children and women living in rural or small urban areas also had high work-family conflict scores. This reflected the increased responsibility that comes with starting a family, maintaining a household and trying to make ends meet. However, the researchers found no statistically significant relationship between domestic roles or working hours and mental health problems. The study could not determine if the work stress caused these problems or vice versa. The researchers call for further research to better understand this relationship, focusing on the interrelation among psychosocial factors inside and outside the workplace, which have significant implications for social policy and prevention.