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Master of Public Health

The Relationship Between Institution-affiliated Childcare and Employee Stress

AUTHORS

Apple R , Samuels LR , McGee-Swope K , Alsup C , Dewey C , Roumie CL , . Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. 2019 11 18; ().

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between utilization of institution-affiliated childcare andemployee stress among parents working at a large, academic medical center.

METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between institution-affiliated childcare and employee stress. Survey questions asked about personal stress related to job, relationship with spouse, parental responsibilities, childcare, finances, and personal health.

RESULTS: 558 (68%) respondents were predominantly female (76.9%). Fifty-four percent had non-institution-affiliated childcare and 45% had institution-affiliated childcare. Use of institution-affiliated childcare was associated with less overall stress (-4.86 [95% confidence interval -8.01, -1.72], p = 0.003), and less stress related to finances, childcare, and personal health. Differences between groups related to job, relationship with spouse, or parental responsibilities were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated an association between institution-affiliated childcare andlower stress, highlighting the centrality of employer-affiliated childcare to employees’ stress.

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