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Who Gains Mental Health Benefits from Work Autonomy? The Roles of Gender and Occupational Class

Author

Listed:
  • Zhuofei Lu

    (University of Manchester)

  • Senhu Wang

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Yaojun Li

    (University of Manchester)

  • Xiyuan Liu

    (University of Manchester)

  • Wendy Olsen

    (University of Manchester)

Abstract

In recent years, improving work autonomy as an important priority in the UK labour market has been shown to enhance employee mental health and well-being. However, previous theories and empirical studies have paid little attention to the intersectional inequalities in the mental health benefits of work autonomy, preventing us from gaining a comprehensive understanding of the mental consequences of work autonomy. By integrating literature from occupational psychology, gender and social class, this study develops theoretical hypotheses regarding whether and how the mental health benefits of work autonomy vary alongside the intersectional axes of gender and occupational class and tests these hypotheses using long-term panel data in the UK (2010–2021). Overall, we find that those from higher occupational class and male employees acquire significantly more mental health benefits from high work autonomy compared with those from lower occupational class and female employees. Moreover, further analyses show significant intersectional inequalities of gender and occupational class. While male employees from all occupational classes gain significant mental health benefits from work autonomy, only female employees from higher (but not lower) occupational classes benefit from work autonomy. These findings contribute to the literature in the sociology of work by demonstrating the intersectional inequalities in mental health consequences of work autonomy, especially for women in the lower occupational class, highlighting the need for a more gender- and occupation-sensitive design in future labour market policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhuofei Lu & Senhu Wang & Yaojun Li & Xiyuan Liu & Wendy Olsen, 2023. "Who Gains Mental Health Benefits from Work Autonomy? The Roles of Gender and Occupational Class," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 1761-1783, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-023-10161-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-023-10161-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhuofei Lu & Wei Zhuang, 2023. "Can Teleworking Improve Workers’ Job Satisfaction? Exploring the Roles of Gender and Emotional Well-Being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(3), pages 1433-1452, June.
    2. Senhu Wang & Lambert Zixin Li & Zhuofei Lu & Shuanglong Li & David Rehkopf, 2022. "Work Schedule Control and Allostatic Load Biomarkers: Disparities Between and Within Gender," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 163(3), pages 1249-1267, October.
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    8. Senhu Wang & Daiga Kamerāde & Brendan Burchell & Adam Coutts & Sarah Ursula Balderson, 2022. "What matters more for employees’ mental health: job quality or job quantity?," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 46(2), pages 251-274.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaohang Zhao & Yang Feng & Lei Jin & Skylar Biyang Sun, 2024. "Unraveling the Nexus between Overeducation and Depressive Symptoms in China: The Roles of Perceived Fairness of Earnings and Job Autonomy," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 1877-1902, August.
    2. Lu, Zhuofei & Wang, Senhu & Ling, Wanying & Guo, Ya, 2023. "Gig work and mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic: A gendered examination of comparisons with regular employment and unemployment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    3. Zhuofei Lu & Senhu Wang & Wendy Olsen, 2023. "Revisiting the ‘flexibility paradox’: degree of work schedule flexibility and time use patterns across gender and occupational groups," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.

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