ISSN: 2167-0420
Witten/Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58448 Witten, Germany
Research Paper
Gender-specific Mental Strain in the Working Context
Author(s): Kevin Claassen* and Horst Christoph Broding
This is an analysis of the mental strain of employees in Germany. It addresses the question whether there is a genderbased
gradient in emotional exhaustion in the working context. 4000 employees were asked by means of an online
access panel in 2019. Women suffer significantly more often from emotional exhaustion, even after controlling for
various demographic and work-related third variables. The finding is independent of migration experiences. Wage
satisfaction appears to be the strongest predictor of emotional exhaustion which is in line with Siegrist’s model of
effort-reward-imbalances. Having children is a significant risk factor. Therefore, the adjusted gender pay gap has to
be closed, while the compatibility of family and career needs to be strengthened on the levels of government and
society. These would be improvements from which women with and witho.. View More»