The Relationship Between Institution-Affiliated Childcare and Employee Stress.

Abstract

To evaluate the relationship between utilization of institution-affiliated childcare and employee stress among parents working at a large, academic medical center. Cross-sectional analysis of the relationship between institution-affiliated childcare and employee stress. Survey questions asked about personal stress related to job, relationship with spouse, parental responsibilities, childcare, finances, and personal health. 558 (68%) respondents were predominantly women (76.9%). Fifty-four percent had non-institution-affiliated childcare and 45% had institution-affiliated childcare. Use of institution-affiliated childcare was associated with less overall stress (-4.86 [95% confidence interval -8.01, -1.72], P = 0.003), and less stress related to finances, childcare, and personal health. Differences between groups related to job, relationship with spouse, or parental responsibilities were not statistically significant. This study demonstrated an association between institution-affiliated childcare and lower stress, highlighting the centrality of employer-affiliated childcare to employees' stress.