Gendered Working Environments as a Determinant of Mental Health Inequalities:A Protocol for a Systematic Review

Both gender and employment are critical and intersecting social determinants of mental and physical health. This paper describes the protocol used to conduct a systematic literature review of the relationship between “gendered working environments„ and mental health. Gendered working environments (GWE) are conceptualised as involving: (1) differences in selection into work, and more specifically, occupations; (2) variation in employment arrangements and working hours; (3) disparities in psychosocial exposures at work, and; (4) differences in selection out of work. Methods/design: The review will adhere to a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) search procedure. Key words will be identified that are specific to each of the four domains of GWE. The databases used for the search will be Scopus, Pubmed, Proquest, and Web of Science. Keywords will be adapted for the specific requirements of each electronic database. Inclusion criteria are: Using a validated scale to measure mental health (outcome); including exposures related to the four domains of GWE; reporting estimates for both men and women; and use of a cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional design. Studies will be excluded if they were published more than 10 years ago, are not in English or do not present extractable data on the relationship between GWE and mental health. Discussion: The proposed review will provide evidence about the numerous and complex ways in which employment and gender intersect (and are reinforced) to influence mental health over the life course

Time use, time pressure and sleep : is gender an effect modifier?

Peer reviewe

Gender equality and health in high-income countries: a systematic review of within-country indicators of gender equality in relation to health outcomes

Background: Gender equality is recognized as an important political, social, and economic goal in many countries around the world. At a country level, there is evidence that gender equality may have an important influence on health. Historically gender equality has mainly been measured to allow for between-country, rather than within-country comparisons; and the association between gender equality and health outcomes within countries has been under-researched. This article thus aimed to systematically review within-country indicators of gender equality in public health studies and assess the extent to which these are related to health outcomes. Materials and Methods: We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach with two independent reviewers. Results: Data from the eight included studies revealed that there was heterogeneity in the way gender equality has been measured as a multidimensional construct. Associations between gender equality and a number of different health outcomes were apparent, including mortality, mental health, morbidity, alcohol consumption, and intimate partner violence, with gender equality mostly associated with better health outcomes. Conclusions: Further investigation into the effects of gender equality on health outcomes, including a clear conceptualization of terms, is critical for the development of policies and programs regarding gender equality

The relationship between phobic anxiety and 2-year readmission after acute coronary syndrome : What is the role of heart rate variability?

Objective Phobic anxiety is a risk factor for poor prognosis following Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). A psychophysiological marker of vagal function, autonomic dysfunction may play a critical role in this relationship. The aim of the study was two-fold: to assess whether phobic anxiety was characterised by autonomic dysfunction (heart rate variability) in the short (1-month) and longer term (12-months) following ACS, and (ii) to quantify the extent to which HRV parameters modified the effect of phobic anxiety on all-cause hospital readmission over 2 years. Methods The ADVENT study followed 416 ACS patients. At 1-month following discharge (T0), phobic anxiety and autonomic functioning were assessed using the Crown Crisp Index (CCI) and 11 indices of heart rate variability (HRV), respectively. HRV was measured again at 12-months (T1) (n = 359). Hospital readmission (all cause) was derived from an audit of hospital records by two medically trained research fellows. Generalised linear modelling (GLM) was used to first determine the association between CCI score at T0 and HRV parameters at T0 and T1. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the relationship between CCI scores and readmission (yes/no) and the extent to which HRV parameters modified this effect. Results CCI scores were associated with 7 of the 11 indices of HRV: Average RR (ms), SDRR (ms), RMSSD (ms), SDSD (ms), pRR50 (%), LF Powers (ms2) and HF Powers (ms2) at T0 but not T1. CCI scores at T0 significantly predicted likelihood of readmission to hospital in the subsequent 2 year period. No parameter of HRV at T0 modified this effect. Limitations We were unable to provide adjudicated major adverse coronary events outcome data, or account for changes in medication adherence, diet or physical activity. Conclusions While phobic anxiety is associated with both reduced vagal function in the short term after an ACS event and 2 year all cause readmission, HRV does not appear to be the pathway by which phobic anxiety drives this outcome

Sex-specific differences in percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes after a cardiac event : A cohort study examining the role of depression, worry and autonomic function

Background To determine whether differential all-cause hospital readmission exists for men and women 2 years after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and to identify potential autonomic and psychological pathways contributing to this association. Methods Four hundred and sixteen (416) patients admitted with ACS were recruited from coronary care wards. Participants attended the study centre at one (T0) and 12 (T1) months following discharge. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess autonomic functioning measured via a three-lead electrocardiogram. Psychological variables of interest (pathological worry, depression and phobic anxiety) were measured using validated self-report questionnaires. Percutaneous coronary intervention treatment data were collected from hospital records. The primary outcome was 2-year all-cause hospital readmission (yes/no). Logistic regression modelling using both complete case analysis and multiple imputation analysis was applied. Results Men who received PCI had a significant reduction in the odds of being rehospitalised over the following 2 years, relative to women who did not (OR=0.45, 95% CI=0.20, 0.98). No other group benefited to this extent. Adjustment for age, ACS severity and Very Low Frequency (VLF) Power appeared to strengthen the association in both the complete case analysis and multiple imputation analysis models. The inclusion of depression and worry also marginally explained these associations in the multiple imputation analysis model. Conclusions Men who receive PCI after ACS were less likely to be readmitted to hospital over the following 2 years than their female counterparts. The small sample size of women and observational study design limit interpretation of the findings. However, heart rate variability, specifically VLF power, requires further investigation as a driver of such sex-specific outcomes