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. 2023 Jan 7;20(2):1080.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021080.

Women's Health and Working Life: A Scoping Review

Marianne Gjellestad  1 , Kristin Haraldstad  2 , Heidi Enehaug  3 , Migle Helmersen  1
Affiliations

Women's Health and Working Life: A Scoping Review

Marianne Gjellestad et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Women's health matters for participation in working life. The objective of this study was to explore female physiology in a work-life context and to investigate possible associations between women's health, sickness absence and work ability. A scoping review was conducted to develop a systematic overview of the current research and to identify knowledge gaps. The search strategy was developed through a population, concept and context (PCC) model, and three areas of women's health were identified for investigation in the context of work. A total of 5798 articles were screened by title and abstract and 274 articles were screened by full text; 130 articles were included in the review. The material included research from 19 countries; the majority of the studies used quantitative methods. The results showed an impact on the occupational setting and an association between sickness absence, work ability and all three areas of women's health, but a holistic and overall perspective on female biology in the work context is missing. This review calls for more knowledge on health and work and possible gender differences in this regard. Women's health and working life involve a complex connection that has the potential to develop new knowledge.

Keywords: female employees; occupational health; sickness absence; work ability.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bar chart of countries and research design.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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