The Relationship Between Institution-Affiliated Childcare and Employee Stress

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between utilization of institution-affiliated childcare and employee stress among parents working at a large, academic medical center. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: This study demonstrated an association between institution-affiliated childcare and lower stress, highlighting the centrality of employer-affiliated childcare to employees’ stress.