Gender differences in the relationship between shiftwork and work injury: examining the influence of dependent children

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between shiftwork and work injury among men and women, taking into account the presence of dependent children. METHODS: An analysis of respondents to the 2009-2010 Multipurpose Household Survey (n = 6927 women and 7340 men). Logistic regression models examined the work injury risk, adjusting for various covariates. RESULTS: The risk of work injury associated with shiftwork was higher for women than for men. Nevertheless, gender differences were present only among respondents with dependent children. Shiftworking women with children also had a greater risk of work injury than shiftworking women without children. CONCLUSIONS: This previously noted elevated risk of injury associated with shiftwork among women compared with that in men may be a product of increased household responsibilities or other factors particular to female shiftworkers with dependent children