Determinants of Perceived Sexism and Their Role on the Association of Sexism with Mental Health

Abstract

The authors of this study sought to compare the socioeconomic factors related to perceived sexism in employed and non-employed Spanish women and to examine whether the relationship of perceived sexism with mental health outcomes is reduced when such factors are taken into account. Data were taken from the 2006 Spanish Health Survey, including women aged 20–64 years (n = 10,927). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the independent relationships between socioeconomic variables and perceived sexism and also between perceived sexism and poor mental health. In this latter case, socioeconomic variables were included by blocks in the logistic models. Perceived sexism was higher among employed women (3.9% vs. 2.8% among non-employed) and mainly among those in a managerial position (11.35%; adjusted OR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.30–5.67) and having irregular working hours (5.5%; adjusted OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.10–2.34). Socioeconomic and family characteristics were associated with perceived sexism among women. Perceived sexism was associated with poor mental health, and this remained the case when different independent variables were taken into account. These results highlight the importance of taking into account gender discrimination in different aspects of our society, such as work and family organization, and in planning mental health interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• sexism
• gender discrimination
• poor mental health
• socioeconomic characteristics
• family characteristics
• work organization

Notes

This study was partially funded by (1) by the Project “Analysis of the effects of discrimination in the self-perceived health in adult and children population in Spain” from the “Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria” of the latter institutions (reference PI080782) and (2) by the programme “Intensificació de l'activitat investigadora (Generalitat de Catalunya, Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias)” given to Carme Borrell for the year 2010.

***P-value comparing the prevalence of sexism (Chi square test) in the different categories <0.001

**P < 0.01

*P < 0.05.

***P-value comparing the prevalence of sexism (Chi square test) in the different categories <0.001

**P < 0.01

*P < 0.05.

⁺⁺⁺ P value of the linearity of comparing prevalence of women who do not perceive sexism, only sexism or sexism and other types of discrimination <0.000

⁺⁺ P < 0.01

⁺ P < 0.05.

*p value <0.000

**p > 0.01

***p < 0.005.