Work-home interference and burnout: a study based on Swedish twins

J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Apr;56(4):361-6. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000128.

Abstract

Objective: This study sets out to investigate the impact of work-home interference on burnout in women and men, while taking genetic and family environmental factors into account.

Methods: A total of 4446 Swedish twins were included in the study. The effects of work-home conflict (WHC) and home-work conflict (HWC) on burnout between and within pairs were analyzed with co-twin control analyses.

Results: Both WHC and HWC were significantly associated with burnout. Genetic factors may be involved in the association between HWC and burnout in women. Familial factors were not involved for WHC and burnout, neither for women nor for men.

Conclusions: This study shows the importance to encounter WHC per se to prevent burnout. Because of genetic confounding in HWC and burnout in women, preventive efforts may also take into account individual characteristics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Burnout, Professional / epidemiology
  • Burnout, Professional / etiology
  • Burnout, Professional / genetics*
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology
  • Demography
  • Diseases in Twins / epidemiology
  • Diseases in Twins / etiology
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Diseases in Twins / psychology
  • Female
  • Gene-Environment Interaction
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Registries
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Sweden / epidemiology
  • Workplace*