Gender, work and health

Gender and sex play an important role in determining work experiences, as well as health experiences in the wake of a work-related injury or disease. (“Gender” typically refers to socially constructed roles, relationships, behaviours, relative power and other traits that societies ascribe to women, men and people of diverse gender identities. “Sex” is typically understood to refer to the biological and physiological characteristics that distinguish females from males.) IWH research seeks to understand these experiences—in particular the effects and outcomes of occupational exposures related to these experiences—in order to develop gender- and sex-sensitive policies and practices to improve the health of all working Canadians.

Two office workers sit at their computer workstations late into the night
At Work article

Sex/gender analysis: Gender study finds overwork linked to higher risks of diabetes in women, not men

Working too long increases risks of diabetes—for women, not men—IWH and ICES study finds.
Published: August 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Psychosocial work factors and diabetes: what is known and what is left to know?

Published: Journal of Diabetes, Metabolic Disorders & Control, August 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Adverse effect of long work hours on incident diabetes in 7065 Ontario workers followed for 12 years

Published: BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, July 2018
CNN logo
IWH in the media

Hard-working women, go home earlier to avoid this disease

Here's a good reason for women to work less, ask for a raise or get their partners to pick up around the house more: If women work fewer hours, it'll lower their risk of diabetes, according to a study by the Institute for Work & Health, reports CNN's Jen Christensen.
Published: CNN, July 2018
US News & World Report logo
IWH in the media

Working overtime could raise women's diabetes risk

Working lots of overtime may get you appreciation from the boss, but it might be bad for your health, writes Serena Gordon of U.S. News & World Report, about a new IWH study
Published: U.S. News & World Report, July 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Self-reported work conditions in Canada: examining changes between 2002 and 2012

Published: Canadian Journal of Public Health, July 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Examining risk of workplace violence in Canada: a sex/gender-based analysis

Published: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, July 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Gender/sex differences in the relationship between psychosocial work exposures and work and life stress

Published: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, March 2018
Journal article
Journal article

Gender, work, and health

Published: Annals of Work Exposures and Health, March 2018