Is work-family conflict a pathway between job strain components and binge eating? A cross-sectional analysis from the ELSA-Brasil study

Abstract

Plain English summary Recent studies have found work-family conflict (i.e., incompatible work and family demands) to link between work issues and physical and mental health. Accordingly, this study investigated whether the relationship between job strain and binge eating is explained by work-family conflict, by body mass index (BMI), in a large sample of Brazilian civil servants. Overall, this study demonstrated that, among overweight individuals, excessive job demands and low decision authority (over what to do at work and how) contribute to binge eating by increasing work-family conflict. Also, excessive skill discretion at work, including opportunities to acquire and use specific job skills, is related to binge eating, regardless of BMI, which deserves further investigation. In conclusion, the results indicate that work-family conflict is a potential mechanism through which job strain can affect eating behavior among overweight individuals.

Keywords

• Eating disorder
• Eating behavior
• Occupational stress
• Job stress
• Psychological stress
• Obesity