Psychosocial characteristics of work and family as determinants of stress and well-being of women: A preliminary study.

The present study attempted to identify psychosocial determinants of stress and well-being in occupationally active women. The test group comprised of 98 women both blue- and white-collar workers falling into four occupational categories. The controlled variable-predictors of global stress perceived by women, and well-being with its general assessment included: psychological and physical work demands, job control, anticipation of job loss, assessment of work associates, family function, and stressful life events. It was found that psychological work demands affected most significantly well-being of women: the higher the demands, the worse the well-being. Job loss anticipation proved to be second among the most important factors affecting well-being of the subjects. At the same time, work insecurity was the most serious factor affecting the perceived stress experienced by women. The significance of the work-related stressors specified above was evidently greater than that of the stressors associated with the family function, although the relationship between family functioning, stress and well-being was also significant. The higher the assessment of the family function, the lower the level of perceived stress and the better the assessment of well-being.