Hygeia Public Health 2017, 52(3): 265-273pl

Model of determinants in perception of work-home interaction and its connections with selected variables among employees caring for dependent persons

Katarzyna Hildt-Ciupińska

Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy w Warszawie

Summary
Introduction. Work and family (home) are the two areas to which the majority of attention, time and energy is directed; they can also provide a lot of satisfaction. Simultaneously, they pose various challenges, sometimes conflicting, with people trying to fulfil them to the same degree, sometimes with negative consequences.
Aim. To determine the conditions of positive vs. negative work-home and home-work interactions and its relationship to health, care for it, work capability, satisfaction with work and life and socio-demographic factors.
Material and method. The research group comprised 600 workers (300 men and 300 women) aged 20-64 years, who cared for dependent persons (children, seniors, disabled persons, etc.). The selection procedure of the sample group was based on the non-probability quota sampling, where the quotas were defined by trade sectors (construction, administration, commerce, health and social care, accommodation and catering), as well as by the age and gender of the respondents. The research was conducted using the PAPI technique (Paper And Pencil Interview). It was a direct interview conducted using a paper survey book comprising: the SWING questionnaire for evaluating work-life relations, Work Ability Index, the Scale for Positive Health Behaviours, the Scale for Life Satisfaction, the Scale for Work Satisfaction, and the author´s own survey designed for the research.
Results. Along with an increase in work capacity, health care and work and life satisfaction, there is an increase in the positive home-work and work-home interaction. This relationship is mutual, which means that finding a balance between work and home promotes health care, enhances job and life satisfaction, and is associated with a higher working capacity.
Conclusion. Health promotion at workplace and proper work organization (especially respect of working hours) which supports the work-life balance can help reduce fatigue resulting from work-life conflict among workers.

Key words:  work-home interaction, care for health, work ability