Gender differences in the relationships between housework and metabolic markers: a longitudinal cohort study in China

BMC Public Health

Yang Li¹  Jia-ru Sun²  Wen-jing Kou²  Xiao-han Ren²  Zhao-zhao Hui²  Ming-xu Wang²  Xiao-qin Wang² 

[1] Department of Nursing, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an, China;Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 76 Yanta West Road, 710061, Xi’an, China;

关键词: Housework;    Metabolic Syndrome;    Stress;    Gender Differences;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-12566-6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome has become a major health threat throughout the world, but there are few studies that focus on the effects of housework on human metabolism. This study explores the association between housework and metabolic markers and examines whether there are gender differences in the relationship of housework intensity on these markers.MethodsWe obtained data for 2,624 participants from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and used binary logistic regression to analyze the association between housework and metabolic markers (triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin, blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure).ResultsWe observed no association between housework and metabolic markers for men. However, we find that women who engaged in housework had a higher risk of triglycerides than those who did not (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.16, 4.25). Compared with low-intensity, we also find that women who performed moderate- and high-housework intensity had a higher risk of triglycerides (moderate-intensity: OR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.78; high-intensity: OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.98), MetS (OR=1.54, 95% CI: 0.98, 2.43; OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.66), pre-hypertension (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.08, 2.62; OR=1.63, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.55), and obesity (OR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.70; OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.01, 2.72).ConclusionIn women, we find that housework is positively associated with the metabolic markers, triglycerides, MetS, and pre-hypertension. However, we did not find evidence that this relationship exists in men, f or any biomarkers we considered. One possible explanation is that people who engage in high-intensity housework are more stressed and sleep less, which could be a mechanism by which housework becomes associated with metabolic disease.

【 授权许可】

CC BY