Background

Common mental disorders are among the leading contributors to the burden of disease in Chile and Latin America. Gender and socioeconomic position are important social determinants of mental health.

Objective:

This study is aimed at determining the role of the double burden of paid job and unpaid domestic work in the association of social determinants with common mental disorders.

Methods

Secondary analyses of a sample representative of the employed or recently employed Chilean population between 2009-2010. Logistic models were used to determine the association between the variables of interest and positive screen for common mental disorders.

Results

Positive screen for common mental disorders was two times as frequent in women, compared to men, but the association between gender and the outcome was not observed when controlling for the double burden of paid and unpaid work. Income was associated with common mental disorders only among men.

Conclusions

The distribution of the double burden of paid and unpaid work, which is more frequent among women, could contribute to the higher frequency of common mental disorders among them. It is important that social and labor public policies address this issue, to reduce the gap experienced by women with respect to paid work, and to foster co-responsibility in domestic and care tasks.

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