Descriptive and Comparative Analysis of the Spanish Working Population: Psychosocial Factors, Work Well-Being and Gender Inequalities

Psychosocial risk has become a major occupational health challenge in Europe, yet few large-scale studies have examined how gender, sector, and hierarchy jointly shape workers’ well-being. This study addresses that gap through a descriptive and comparative analysis of the Spanish working population, exploring gender inequalities in psychosocial factors and their emotional and somatic correlates. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 571 Spanish workers from diverse sectors and hierarchical levels. The questionnaire included sociodemographic, occupational, and psychosocial variables drawn from the General Labor Well-Being Questionnaire (qBLG), which assesses somatization, exhaustion, and professional alienation. Statistical analyses (ANOVA, t-tests, effect sizes, and correlation matrices) were conducted via R software. The results revealed significant gender differences across nearly all psychosocial dimensions. Women reported higher levels of physical and emotional exhaustion, muscle tension, and headaches, whereas men showed greater representation in managerial roles. Correlation patterns indicated that emotional and physical symptoms were more strongly interrelated among women, suggesting cumulative or synergistic effects of psychosocial exposure. These findings confirm that gender disparities in occupational well-being are primarily structural rather than biological, emerging from differences in job roles, emotional demands, and organizational resources. Integrating a gender perspective into psychosocial risk assessment is therefore essential to achieve healthier, more equitable workplaces and advance the Sustainable Development Goals on health, gender equality, and decent work.