Impact of working hours on sleep and mental health

Exploring the association between loneliness, work environment, and depressive symptoms: evidence from young Korean workers in the Seoul Metropolitan Area

Background

Mental health in the workplace is an emerging public health concern, particularly for young workers who may experience challenges that contribute to psychological distress. This study examined the associations between loneliness, work environment, and depressive symptoms among young workers in Seoul, South Korea.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among young workers in Seoul to assess workplace conditions, job satisfaction, workplace bullying, and depressive symptoms. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between selected workplace factors, including job-major alignment, commute time, workplace bullying, job satisfaction, and mental health outcomes.

Results

A negative association was found between job satisfaction and depressive symptoms, and a positive association was found between workplace bullying and depressive symptoms. Job-major alignment and commute time were not significantly related to depressive symptoms. The findings also highlighted a meaningful relationship between workplace social connections and loneliness among young workers.

Conclusion

These results suggest that workplace conditions, such as job satisfaction and social climate, may be important factors in understanding depressive symptoms among younger working populations. Given that the data were limited to young workers in Seoul, future research should adopt a longitudinal design and conduct comparative studies across different regions and countries to gain a more comprehensive understanding of workplace mental health.

Burnout and risk factors among anesthesia residents and fellows in a conflict-affected context: A national cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

Burnout is an occupational hazard caused by chronic exposure to excessive work-related stress, negatively impacting both clinicians' well-being and patient safety. Anesthesiology is particularly demanding, and this stress is further exacerbated in regions affected by conflict, where residents and fellows are confronted with additional stressors beyond the usual challenges of medical training. This study aims to assess the proportion and predictors of burnout among anesthesia residents and fellows in Lebanon, a conflict-affected context, by identifying specific drivers of burnout in this population, while also evaluating their association with sociodemographic characteristics.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving electronic, voluntary, and anonymous survey was sent to all Lebanese anesthesiology residents and fellows at all levels of training, between May and October 2024. The survey utilized the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) in addition to other questions. Bivariate and multivariable analyses identified predictors of CBI subscales (personal, work-related, and client-related burnout respectively). An alpha of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

RESULTS

Approximately 71% of participants reported personal burnout, with 32% classified as having a high level. Additionally, 68% reported work-related burnout, with 22% in the high category, and 36% experienced client-related burnout, with 5% classified as high. Moreover, experiencing mental health problems, reporting the need for pharmaceutical or psychological assistance, living with family and covering night shifts were found to be significantly and positively associated with different burnout dimensions.

CONCLUSION

Burnout levels among anesthesiology residents in conflict-affected areas appear elevated in reference to international studies, which is concerning given the additional stressors associated with ongoing regional conflict. The continuous escalation of these challenges is likely to exacerbate burnout over time. Targeted interventions to manage burnout are crucial for trainees' well-being and the effective functioning of medical institutions, particularly in conflict-affected regions where the stressors are compounded.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of group-based trajectory modeling of sleep duration across age groups and in relation to health outcomes

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To shed light on understanding sleep duration trajectories (SDTs) using different classification methods and their outcomes, this study aimed to (1) identify common SDTs among different age groups, (2) investigate the alignment versus differences between SDTs identification by group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and clinical standards, and (3) examine the impacts of SDTs on health outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search from four databases yielded 34 longitudinal SDT studies with GBTM analyses spanning three or more data waves. Apart from the proportion meta-analysis, a three-level meta-analysis was conducted with 14 of the studies that examined the association between SDT groups and health outcomes. Assessment of study quality was performed using the Guidelines for Reporting on Latent Trajectory Studies checklist.

RESULTS

Qualitative analysis identified four age-related SDT classes based on longitudinal trends: "persistent sleepers," "increase sleepers," "decrease sleepers," and "variable sleepers." Meta-analysis also showed differential proportions of "GBTM-defined shortest sleepers" across age groups and sample regions, as well as significant discrepancies in the prevalence of short sleep identified by clinical standards (=50% vs. 15% per GBTM). Overall, SDTs predicted emotional and behavioral outcomes, neurocognitive problems, and physical health (OR = 1.538, p < 0.001), in GBTM-defined "short," "fluctuating," "long," and "decreasing" sleepers as compared to the "adequate" group. The effects were stronger in adolescents and in datasets with more waves.

CONCLUSIONS

The identification of the GBTM-defined "short," "fluctuating," "long," and "decreasing" SDT groups and their associations with various health outcomes supported longitudinal investigations, as well as the development of interventions focusing on both the length and stability of sleep durations, especially in younger populations. Study registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42023412201.

Suicide Risk in Veterinary Professionals in Portugal: Prevalence of Psychological Symptoms, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue

Mental health problems and suicide risk among veterinarians and veterinary nurses are well documented in the literature. Data on veterinary assistants have been overlooked, however. In addition, information on Portuguese veterinary professionals is lacking. An online sample of 833 Portuguese veterinary professionals (443 veterinarians, 287 nurses, and 103 assistants) completed self-report questionnaires about suicide risk and mental health between December 2022 and March 2023. Descriptive analysis revealed that 3.5% of respondents attempted suicide during their lifetime; 17.2% experienced extremely severe depression and suicidal ideation; 17.8% and 27.0% experienced extremely severe stress and anxiety, respectively; and 27.4% and 27.7% reported burnout and compassion fatigue, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that professionals with a history of mental illness history; with current clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; and working more than 40 hours per week experienced greater levels of burnout, compassion fatigue, and suicide ideation. Other variables such as being a woman, being a veterinary assistant, and disagreeing with motives for euthanasia also predicted some mental health problems. Mental health problems in the Portuguese veterinary professionals are a major health concern. These professionals are at higher risk for suicide, and clinical implications and guidelines are discussed.

Influence of Socio-Demographic, Occupational and Lifestyle Variables on Sleep Time

Background

Socio-demographic, occupational and lifestyle variables influence total sleep time. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the influence of those variables on sleep time, and to study risk factors of being a short sleeper.

Methods

The COVISTRESS international study is an online questionnaire using the secure REDCap® software. Total sleep time was evaluated using declared bedtime and time of awakening and was analyzed as a quantitative variable and as a qualitative variable.

Results

We included 549 respondents to the questionnaire, divided into 10-year age groups ranging from <30yo to ≥60yo. The mean quantity of sleep was 7.11±1.43 hours per night. Factors that reduce total sleep time were age (coefficient -0.19, 95CI -0.33 to 0.06), being an employee (-0.46, -0.85 to -0.06), working time (-0.18, -0.31 to 0.05), smoking ≥5 cigarettes/day (-0.5, -0.95 to -0.20), high stress at work (-0.64, -0.96 to -0.32) and at home (-0.66, -0.97 to -0.35). Being a student (0.61, 0.02 to 1.19), working less than 25h per week (0.57, 0.17 to 0.97) and telework (0.46, 0.02 to 0.89) increased total sleep time. The risk factors of being a short sleeper were age (odds ratio 1.27, 95CI 1.07 to 1.51), being an employee (2.58, 1.36 to 4.89), smoking ≥5 cigarettes/day (2.73, 1.54 to 4.84) and a high level of stress at work (2.64, 1.45 to 4.82) and at home (3.89, 2.25 to 6.63). Physical activity ≥2.5 hours/week tended to decrease the risk of being a short sleeper by 35%.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the concomitant impact of sociodemographic, occupational and lifestyle behavior on sleep, which may help to build efficient preventive strategy.

Causal effects of promotion to managerial positions on mental health and satisfaction in Japanese male workers

PURPOSE

We estimated the static and dynamic effects of promotion to managerial positions on mental health and satisfaction using the recent estimation method; we addressed the gap in extant research by considering the heterogeneity in treatment timing to reconfirm evidence regarding the causal effects of promotion.

METHODS

We used a modified estimation method of two-way fixed effects recommended by (Callaway and Sant'Anna, J Econom 225:200-230, 2021). To check for robustness, we compared the analyses using propensity sample matching, an alternative treatment timing heterogeneity-robust analysis, and a normal two-way fixed effects event study. We used four years of complete panel data on a sample of 1454 Japanese males (5816 overall).

RESULTS

The results indicated that becoming a manager worsened mental health with a two-year lag. We tested the effects of promotion to managerial positions on variables shown in previous studies to have negative effects on mental health (e.g., increased working hours) and positive effects (e.g., increased job role clarity) as outcomes to explore the mechanisms. Some of both variables indicate statistical significance. These results were robust.

CONCLUSION

The promotion to managerial positions deteriorated mental health with a two-year lag. Promotion to managerial positions exhibited both positive and negative effects. The findings have potential implications for firms' human resources allocation.

Balancing work and earnings: The long-term impact on mental health

Earnings and work hours (e.g., weekly work hours) are key determinants of one's mental health. While higher earnings are linked to better mental health due to reduced financial stress, they may come at the cost of longer work hours harmful for mental health. Therefore, balancing work hours with earnings is crucial for mental health. Using the 2015, 2017, and 2019 waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (N = 6,776), this study explores how one's earnings and work hours combine to influence mental health using growth mixture modeling and a negative binomial regression model, with generalized propensity score weighting for causal inference. The findings reveal that working 40 h a week with earnings two to three times the US federal poverty threshold benefits mental health. However, earning more by working 60 h a week does not provide additional mental health benefits. Additionally, individuals with a history of low earnings face a high risk of psychological distress, even as their earnings improve over time. This risk is similar to that experienced by those consistently earning low incomes. Our findings highlight the importance of clarifying work-earning balance for one's mental health as well as identifying people with mental health needs from a longitudinal perspective.

A Longitudinal Analysis of Long Working Hours and the Onset of Psychological Distress

OBJECTIVES

There is a paucity of longitudinal studies examining the relationship between working hours and the development of psychological distress (PD) among US workers. This study utilized a longitudinal approach to examine this relationship.

METHODS

The 2010-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data was utilized. PD was analyzed among full-time US employees without PD at baseline using a fixed effect approach.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 27,548 full-time workers. Individuals working 61 hours or more weekly had the highest risk of PD onset, at 9.9% (95% CI = 1.9%-17.8%, P < 0.05), compared to those working 30 to 35 hours weekly. Interestingly, an increased risk of PD onset was found among individuals working 36 to 40 hr/wk at 6.6% (CI = 1.5%-11.6%%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Long working hours were associated with the increased development of PD.

Validation of visual analog scales of mood and anxiety at the workplace

The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) is commonly used to detect depressive or anxious states, but its 14-item questionnaire is time-consuming. Visual analog scales (VAS) are easy to use and quick to implement. Although the VAS has been validated to assess pain and occupational stress, VAS scores for anxiety and mood have never been evaluated in the workplace. We aimed to validate the use of visual analog scales (VAS) for anxiety and mood compared to HADS in workers. A HADS self-reported questionnaire associated with VAS assessing perceived anxiety and mood on a horizontal line of 100 mm was administered to 182 workers, with a second test (retest) proposed one week later. Sociodemographic, characteristics of work, sleep, well-being, and stress were also assessed. VAS anxiety and mood correlated with the HADS sub-scores (0.70 and 0.65, respectively). The test-retest reliability was good. Optimal VAS cut-offs were ≥ 60/100 for anxiety and ≤ 60/100 for mood, to define at-risk patients. The VAS is quick to perform, easy to use, and reliable for screening depression and anxiety in occupational medicine. We recommend validated questionnaires for at-risk patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

CLINICALTRIALS

gov: NCT02596737. Available at: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ct2/show/NCT02596737.

Sleep Deficiency: Epidemiology and Effects

Adequate sleep is an important pillar of physical and mental health. Sleep deficiency, resulting from short sleep or suboptimal sleep quality, is highly prevalent in modern society. Occupation, social demands, psychiatric disorders, physical disorders, and sleep disorders are some of the contributing factors to sleep deficiency. Some populations are at increased risk of sleep deficiency based on ethnicity, age, marital status, sex, and hospitalization. Sleep deficiency influences cognition, alertness, mood, behavior, diabetes, cardiovascular health, renal function, immune system, and respiratory physiology. This review summarizes the epidemiology and effects of sleep deficiency.

Personality functioning and mental distress in leaders of small- and medium sized enterprises

OBJECTIVE

For leaders of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grappling with diverse tasks and stressors, personality functioning can play a key role on stress perception and building and managing professional relationships. We investigated the relationship between SME leaders' personality functioning on the dimensions of self-perception and self-regulation on perceived stress reactivity (PSR), and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

METHODS

A cross-sectional sub analysis of a multi-centre RCT project was performed. A sample of N = 174 SME leaders from various sectors in southern Germany were examined on their self-rated levels of personality functioning (OPD-SQ), involving self-perception (facets: self-reflection, affect differentiation, sense of identity) and self-reflection (facets: impulse control, affect tolerance, regulation of self-esteem), with higher scores indicating lower levels of personality functioning. The outcome variables were perceived stress reactivity (PSRS) and symptoms of depression and anxiety (HADS).

RESULTS

The mean score for symptoms of anxiety was M = 6.13 (SD = 3.34), depression M = 4.40 (SD = 3.35), and for PSRS M = 21.39 (SD = 8.04). The mean sum score for self-perception was M = 7.71 (SD = 7.19) and for self-regulation M = 10.50 (SD = 7.09). The results of three regression models showed that higher scores for affect differentiation (rsp = .13), impulse control (rsp = .14) and regulation of self-esteem (rsp = .29) were associated with higher scores for PSR. Higher scores for affect differentiation (rsp = .17) and affect tolerance (rsp = .20) were significantly associated with higher scores for anxiety. A higher score for regulation of self-esteem (rsp = .17) was associated with higher depression scores.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the association between core dimensions of SME leaders' personality functioning and mental distress. The findings can be applied on interventions and health promotion and the establishment of high-quality professional relationships and leadership skills.

Impact of work hours on sleep quality: a non-linear and gendered disparity

PURPOSE

Quality sleep is vital for good health. Although it is known that workhours affect sleep quality, it is not known at what point workhours begin to compromise sleep. Few studies consider workhours in the 'other job' (domestic and care work) or address reverse causality between sleep quality and how long people work. This study aimed to estimate the point at which weekly workhours harm sleep, among employed Australians aged 25-64.

METHODS

Using Australian data (19,453 observations from 9,826 adults assessed 2013, 2017, and 2021), a maximum likelihood instrumental variable approach modelled the influence of domestic and care hours on workhours and then the effect of workhours on sleep. We tested for a non-linear pattern and a potential tipping point or limit at which sleep quality declines. Sleep quality scores were constructed from sleep duration (hours), quality rating, medications, and problems with onset.

RESULTS

We estimated a population tipping point of 42 workhours per week, beyond which sleep quality deteriorated. Notably, women demonstrated a lower tipping point (36 h) beyond which their sleep quality deteriorated compared to men (47 h), likely linked to their greater care and domestic workhours in the home.

CONCLUSIONS

Our methods allowed us to specify the point at which weekly workhours were optimal for sleep quality and the point beyond which they become harmful. By considering unequal hours worked in care and domestic work, we were able to identify distinct gender differences in this relationship.

Safe limits on work hours for the nursing profession: a rapid evidence review

Persistent staffing shortages in health care driven by years of inadequate funding and deficiencies in human resources planning, which overlooked the impacts of population aging, have converged into a crisis in health care settings. An essential consequence of the widespread and growing staffing shortfalls in health care has been increased pressure on nurses to work longer hours. The present rapid review has two major objectives: (1) to systematically review and synthesize evidence considering the health and human consequences of excessive work hours, work-related fatigue and associated occupational health and safety hazards; and, (2) to identify policies and practices that demonstrate efficacy in managing or mitigating the adverse effects of occupational fatigue. Findings show that shifts lasting longer than 12 h elevate the risk of occupational fatigue, leading to several fatigue-based hazards. Despite governmental restrictions on long work hours and occupational fatigue in safety-critical industries such as transport, aviation, and nuclear sectors, health care remains largely unregulated in this regard. Ensuring safe and high-quality care over the long term requires implementing adequate regulatory supports for work hour limits for nurses. These measures not only improve workplace satisfaction but also enhance patient outcomes, ultimately fostering a healthier and more resilient health care system.

Working hours influence preferences of residents for micro features of small urban green spaces

This study investigates whether duration of working hours affect residents' preferences for the micro-features of Small Urban Green Spaces (SUGS), and explores differences across genders and visitation purposes. Little is known about this subject, yet it is crucial for creating more equitable green spaces. In phase 1, participants (n = 209; 30.9 ± 6.73 years, 59.3%male) were categorized by average daily working hours (0-8 h, 8-10 h, 10 h+), and rated 41 micro-feature images on their importance for visiting SUGS. Phase 2 included the top ten features ranked from phase 1, with participants (n = 256; 30.8 ± 5.12 years, 35.2% female) completing the Kano model survey to identify and explain the importance of features and different types of needs. Findings reveal a clear trend: extended work hours pivot resident preferences towards green space attributes promoting physical activity. For residents of 0-8 h valued aesthetic elements like sculptures and vegetation, while lighting became paramount for those with 8-10 h, and for those working over 10 h prioritized facilities for active engagement, such as playground equipment and slow runway. These distinctions provide valuable guidance for designing SUGS with diverse feature combinations that cater to the needs of residential areas with varying socio-economic backgrounds and occupational lifestyles, thereby enhancing urban livability.

The association of long working hours and short sleep duration on mental health among Japanese physicians

This cross-sectional study investigates the association between long working hours, short sleep duration, and mental health among Japanese physicians. We enrolled 232 Japanese physicians. We used the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire to assess high-stress status, and the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale to assess depressive status. Daily sleep duration (DSD) and weekly working hours (WWHs) were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association of the combined categories of DSD and WWHs with high-stress and depressive status. Compared to physicians with WWHs <80 h and DSD ≥6 h, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of high-stress status for those with WWHs ≥80 and DSD ≥6, WWHs <80 and DSD <6, and WWHs ≥80 and DSD <6 were 2.76 (0.97-7.87), 3.36 (1.53-7.40), and 3.92 (1.52-10.14), respectively. The respective ORs (CIs) of depressive status were 1.82 (0.42-7.81), 4.03 (1.41-11.53), and 4.69 (1.33-16.62). The results showed that regardless of working long hours or not, physicians with DSD <6 h had significantly higher stress and depressive status, suggesting that not only regulating long working hours but also ensuring adequate sleep duration is important for preventing physicians' mental health.

Work hours and the risk of hypertension: the case of Indonesia

BACKGROUND

Individuals working excessive hours is a worldwide phenomenon. In Indonesia, over 32 million people work more than 40 h per week, contributing to around 26% of the workforce. Excessive working may affect health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension. Hypertension affected around 34% of Indonesian adults, approximately 63.3 million people and led to about 427,000 deaths in 2018, and the prevalence remains high at 29.2% in 2023. This study aims to analyze the relationship between work hours and the risk of hypertension among working individuals in Indonesia.

METHODS

This study used a pooled cross-sectional data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS) wave 4 (2007) and wave 5 (2014) and performed a logit regression analysis to examine the likelihood of a working individual having hypertension based on the individual's work hours. A dummy variable of hypertension is created based on the result of blood pressure measurement. The sample consists of 22,500 working individuals in Indonesia. This study controlled for job characteristics, sociodemographic status and health-behavioral risk factors such as BMI and smoking behavior, and performed additional regression analyses for alternative models to check for robustness.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that there is a higher probability of having hypertension for workers who work longer hours by 0.06% points for each additional hour of work (p < 0.01). Other factors such as physical activity and smoking behavior have also been demonstrated to be significantly correlated to the risk of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed a positive relationship between work hours and hypertension. Although this study cannot suggest causality, the strongly significant correlation may provide an idea and an overview regarding the risk of hypertension among working individuals in Indonesia. The Indonesian government could consider conducting further studies to implement and promote flexible working arrangements initiatives and incentive programs to improve workers' health outcomes.

Working Hours, Shift, and Remote Work by Industry and Occupation in U.S. Full-time Workers

BACKGROUND

This study examines working hours, shift work, and remote work patterns by occupation and industry among U.S. full-time workers, along with the association between working and sleeping hours.

METHODS

Utilizing data from 2011 to 2020 American Time Use Survey, this national household survey examines how individuals aged 15 years or older in the United States spend their time within a 24-hour period.

FINDINGS

In 2011 to 2019, U.S. full-time workers averaged 8.1 hours of work and 7.8 hours spent sleep on workdays, increasing to 9.6 hours on non-workdays. Among all occupations, Emergency medical technicians and paramedics had the longest average working hours (10.4 hours). Protective services occupations had the highest percentage (41.7%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Among all industries, truck transportation industry had the longest average working hours (9.2). Food services and drinking places industries had the highest percentage (28.6%) of workers reporting often working shifts other than daytime. Working hours showed a negative association with sleeping hours. In 2020, 34.0% of full-time workers reported remote work due to COVID-19, with the largest percentage (72.3%) occurring in business and financial operations.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings offer essential benchmarks for comparing working hours and schedules across diverse occupations and industries. These insights empower occupational health practitioners to advocate for prevention measures, addressing health concerns arising from prolonged working hours and shift work.

Association between sleep patterns and alcohol use disorders in workers

Alcohol use among workers that is intended to aid sleep may lead to alcohol use disorders. This study aimed to explore the association between sleep patterns and alcohol use disorders in workers. Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 were used for this study. We included only workers aged 19 years and older. The final analysis comprised 11,972 respondents (6,472 male and 5,500 female). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between sleep patterns and alcohol use disorders. Workers with poor sleep patterns were more likely to develop alcohol use disorders compared to those with good sleep patterns (male: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.39; female: adjusted OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.41). Workers with both poor sleep quality and less than seven hours of sleep had the highest odds of alcohol use disorders in both male (adjusted OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.38-2.17) and female (adjusted OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.13-1.84). Poor sleep patterns were associated with alcohol use disorders in male who work night shift (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.25-2.42) and in female who worked more than 52 hours per week (adjusted OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.04-2.80). Customized sleep management programs should be provided to workers in sleep-deprived working environments to prevent them from developing alcohol use disorders.

Commuting time, working time, and their link to insomnia symptoms among Korean employees: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Although commuting time is an extension of working hours, few studies have examined the relationship between commuting time and insomnia symptoms in relation to working time. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between commuting time and working time and their link to sleep disturbance.

METHODS

This study included employees with ≥35 weekly working hours (n = 30,458) using data from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey conducted in Korea between October 2020 and April 2021. The association between commuting time (≤60, 61-120, and >120 minutes) and insomnia symptoms based on working hours (35-40, 41-52, and >52 h/wk) or shift work was investigated using survey-weighted logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Long commuting time (>120 min/d) combined with >52 working hours/week (OR: 7.88, 95% CI: 2.51-24.71) or combined with 41-52 h/wk (OR: 3.64, 95% CI: 2.15-6.14) was associated with a higher risk of insomnia symptoms compared with the reference group (working hours: 35-40 h/wk; daily commuting time: ≤60 minutes), after controlling for sex, age, socioeconomic factors, and work-related factors. Among shift workers, those with daily commuting time ≤60 minutes (OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.39-2.09), 61-120 minutes (OR: 2.63, 95% CI: 1.21-5.74), and >120 minutes (OR: 5.16, 95% CI: 2.14-12.44) had higher odds of insomnia symptoms than nonshift workers with ≤60 minutes daily commuting time.

CONCLUSION

Long working hours and shift work are associated with greater risk of insomnia symptoms.

Exploring the Impact of Workplace Violence on the Mental Health of Chinese Correctional Officers: A JD-R Model Approach

Background

Correctional officers face widespread workplace violence and the resulting overwork that can profoundly damage their physical and mental health.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the mediating role of overwork in the relationship between workplace violence and the manifestation of physical and mental health issues among correctional officers.

Methods

This study enlisted 472 eligible participants. Cross-sectional data were obtained using the Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale (WVS), while the physical and mental health of correctional officers was evaluated through relevant scales. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and tests for mediation models.

Results

The study found significant correlations between workplace violence, overwork, and various mental health variables (depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and insomnia), with correlations ranging from 0.135 to 0.822 (p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that workplace violence directly impacts correctional officers' physical and mental health (p < 0.001) and also has an indirect effect through overwork (p < 0.023). These findings underscore the substantial impact of workplace violence on the health of correctional officers, both directly and indirectly.

Conclusion

Workplace violence and overwork significantly contribute to the physical and mental health challenges faced by correctional officers. Overwork acts as a mediator in the relationship between workplace violence and these health issues. The study suggests addressing workplace violence and mental health issues among correctional officers by increasing their numbers, improving the work environment, and implementing enhanced welfare policies.

Impact of Long Working Hours on Mental Health Status in Japan: Evidence from a National Representative Survey

Using the 2010-2019 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions (CSLC) conducted in Japan, we examined the impact of long working hours on mental health in Japan while addressing the endogeneity issue arising from non-random selection bias. We assessed the variations in the effects of long working hours on mental health across different groups. The results show that first, individuals working longer hours (55 h or more per week) exhibited a higher likelihood of developing mental illness than those working regular hours or fewer hours. Second, the negative effect of long working hours on mental health is more pronounced among non-regular workers than among regular workers. Third, the effect of long working hours on mental health varies among different demographic groups, with a greater impact observed among women, managers, non-regular workers, employees in small- or large-sized firms, and those in smaller cities compared to their counterparts. Thus, to enhance worker productivity, the Japanese government should address the issue of long working hours to improve employees' mental well-being. Initiatives aimed at promoting work-life balance, family-friendly policies, and measures to ameliorate working conditions are expected to help mitigate the challenges associated with long working hours and mental health issues, especially among non-regular workers.

The privilege and the pressure: judges' and magistrates' reflections on the sources and impacts of stress in judicial work

There is growing evidence that judges and magistrates experience both high stress and high satisfaction in their work; however, the subjective experience of judicial stress and the cultural and professional factors shaping that experience remain largely unexamined. This qualitative study builds upon earlier quantitative research with the Australian judiciary, by exploring judges' and magistrates' perceptions of the sources and impacts of judicial stress and their ideas for court responses. Thematic analysis of 59 in-depth interviews with judicial officers from five Australian courts revealed eight themes pertaining to the better understanding and management of occupational stress within the judiciary. Implications for courts and individual judicial officers are discussed.

Association of COVID-19 preventive behavior and job-related stress with the sleep quality of healthcare workers one year into the COVID-19 outbreak: a Japanese cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the association of COVID-19 preventive behavior and job-related stress with sleep quality among healthcare workers (HCWs). We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.

METHODS

A total of 586 participants who completed the questionnaire were eligible for the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate sleep quality. We examined the level of engagement between poor sleep and COVID-19-related infection preventive behaviors, such as avoiding closed spaces, crowded places, and close contact (three Cs), a distance of at least one meter from others, wearing a face mask regularly, washing hands regularly, and working remotely, as well as job-related stress in the work environment, exposure to patients, potential risk of infection, fear of infecting others, need for social confinement, and financial instability. We conducted a hierarchical logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between poor sleep and COVID-19 preventive behavior, job-related stress, and other covariates, including age, sex, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), which was used to measure non-specific psychological distress.

RESULTS

Poor sleep was observed in 223 (38.1%) participants. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures was relatively high: 84.1% of participants answered "always" for wearing a face mask regularly and 83.4% for washing hands regularly. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, stress in the work environment (odds ratio [OR] = 2.09, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-3.20; p < 0.001), financial instability (OR = 1.73, 95% CI, 1.12-2.67; p < 0.05), and low adherence to working remotely (OR = 1.65, 95% CI, 1.06-2.57; p < 0.05) were independently and significantly associated with poor sleep after controlling for the covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the poor sleep rates of HCWs remained high. These results emphasize the need to protect HCWs from work environment stress and financial concerns.

Masculine depression and its problem behaviors: use alcohol and drugs, work hard, and avoid psychiatry!

The gender role influences vulnerability to mental illness. Substance use, even critical in scale, is perceived as masculine, just like hard (over-)work, while not seeking help. With the ongoing separation between gender and sex, masculine norms become more relevant also to females' mental health. The male depression concept highlights the role of male symptoms in affective disorders. However, the empirical evidence is still limited. Here, we use the denomination 'masculine depression' to open the category for female patients and tested substance use patterns, health services' utilization, and working hours as predictors in a case-control study of 163 depressed in-patients (44% women; masculine vs. non-masculine depression according to a median split of the Male Depression Rating Scale-22) and 176 controls (51% women). We assessed higher depression severity in patients with masculine (vs. non-masculine) depression. Masculine depression (vs. non-masculine depression and vs. no depression) was predicted by more frequent and critical use of alcohol (including binge drinking), tobacco, and illicit drugs, and by longer working times. Moreover, fewer health services contacts due to mental complaints during the previous year were associated with masculine (vs. non-masculine) depression. Alarmingly, even critical substance misuse was not significantly associated with more frequent health services contacts; however, the higher the depression severity, the more contacts the patients reported. Here, we provide evidence that patients with masculine depression are highly burdened and undertreated, which applies equally to female and male patients. This study identified promising targets to establish specialized care offers.

Female workers with long working hours are more likely to have depressive symptoms when having family-to-work conflict

PURPOSE

Workers' health can be influenced by risk factors from their family environments as well as their work environments. This paper sought to examine how the association between long working hours and depressive symptoms differs based on the level of FWC after being stratified by worker's gender.

METHODS

We used the dataset of 20,384 full-time wage workers from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2020). Long working hours were defined as working 52 h or more per week. FWC was measured using a 2-item questionnaire, and depressive symptoms were measured using the WHO-5 well-being index. Applying modified Poisson regression, we evaluated how the association between long working hours and depressive symptoms differs by the level of FWC male and female workers separately.

RESULTS

In the analysis of the female workers, long working hours were associated with depressive symptoms in the high FWC group (PR 1.35, 95% CI 1.17, 1.55) after adjusting for potential confounders whereas no association was observed in the low FWC group. Among the male workers, a statistically significant association was observed in both high FWC (PR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07, 1.38) and low FWC (PR 1.28, 95% CI 1.12, 1.47) groups.

CONCLUSION

FWC may act as a workplace stressor that potentially amplifies the health impact of long working hours among female workers.

Poor sleep quality and associated determinants among textile and garment manufacturing workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background

Sleep is a physiological process that is essential to human physical, emotional, and mental health. Sleep difficulties affect an estimated 150 million individuals globally, with roughly 17% of the population in developing countries. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality among textile and garment manufacturing workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2022.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study was done from July 15th to August 15th, 2022, using a simple random sample technique. The degree of self-reported poor sleep quality was quantified using a validated, interviewer-administered, standardized Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. To determine the relationship between independent variables and poor sleep quality, multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out with a p-value of less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 75.4% (95% CI: 70.8, 80). Working more than 8 h per day (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.01, 7.94), work dissatisfaction (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.52-7.05), and using electronic materials before sleeping (AOR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.01-4.30) were all associated with poor sleep quality.

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality was common among garment and textile industrial workers. Work dissatisfaction, working hours, and the utilization of electronic materials before bedtime were all substantially related to poor sleep quality, which should be taken into account and addressed early to reduce poor sleep quality.

Synergistic interaction between long shifts and short rest periods on depression in shift workers: A cross-sectional study from Korea

BACKGROUND

Long shifts and short rest periods (SRP) between shifts are important factors that greatly affect shift workers' health. However, reports on the psychological effects of shift work, such as depression, have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the combined effect of long shifts and SRP on depression in shift workers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 3295 shift workers in the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey. The relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was computed to estimate the combined effect of long shifts and SRP on depression.

RESULTS

Depression in shift workers was not significantly associated with long shifts or SRP after adjustment, but the risk was significantly increased when exposed to both factors simultaneously (odds ratio 1.36, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.79). The RERI between the two factors was statistically significant (p = 0.020), indicating a synergistic interaction with depression. Sensitivity analysis by occupation showed a significant interaction in the combined group of office and service workers (p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Simultaneous exposure to SRP and long shifts should be avoided when planning shift work schedules or devising health policies for shift workers. Special consideration is needed for healthcare and service workers, who may be particularly vulnerable to negative health impacts due to shift work.

The intersectional effects of motivational and affective factors on managers' performance

Drawing from the effort-recovery model, the authors analyzed the role of daily sleep quality as a driver for self-regulatory resources and consequently of task and contextual performance. Specifically, the authors hypothesized that self-regulatory resources would be a potential mechanism for enhancing workers' performance after a good night's sleep. Moreover, relying on the COR theory, the authors proposed health-related indicators (mental health and vitality) as intensifiers of the previously proposed indirect effect. Daily diary data were collected from 97 managers over five consecutive working days (485 daily observations) and analyzed using multilevel analyses. Sleep quality was positively associated with managers' self-regulatory resources and (task and contextual) performance at the person and day levels. Additionally, results provided support for most of the assumed indirect effects of sleep quality on both performance dimensions via self-regulatory resources. At last, the findings evidenced that these indirect effects were moderated by health indicators in a way that lower scores on health intensified such positive effects. Organizations should create mechanisms that could promote their workers' awareness of the potential benefits of sleeping well at night as well as its impacts on both self-regulatory resources and performance. The current intensification of workload together with working after hours may pose a risk to this important resource source for managers. These findings emphasize the day-to-day variation in self-regulatory resources needed to perform and that workers' sleep quality has the potential to stimulate a resource-building process for such benefits.

Association between work-related physical activity and depressive symptoms in Korean workers: data from the Korea national health and nutrition examination survey 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020

BACKGROUND

The workplace experiences of employees can impact their mental health. Depressive symptoms, which are experienced by workers, are a mental health issue that deserves attention. Several studies have evaluated physical activity to prevent possible depression in workers in a work environment, however, research on physical activity and depression symptoms directly related to work is still insufficient. Therefore, we aimed to identify the relationship between work-related physical activity and depression among South Korean workers.

METHODS

We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020, which included 31,051 participants. We excluded, participants aged < 15 years (n = 4,663), unemployed and economically inactive persons (n = 9,793), those who did not engage in work-related physical activities (n = 1,513) and leisure physical activities (n = 1,558), or those with missing data (n = 450). Therefore, the study included 13,074 participants. Work-related activity was measured by self-reporting, while depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between work-related physical symptoms and depressive symptoms among workers.

RESULTS

Individuals who engaged in work-related physical activity had higher PHQ-9 scores than those who did not (male: odds ratio [OR]: 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-2.52; female: OR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.66-3.29). High-intensity work-related physical activity significantly increased depressive symptoms (male: OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.04-4.43; female: OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.46-5.96). When classified according to the severity of depressive symptom, the OR of depressive symptoms of workers engaged in both leisure and work-related physical activities tended to be lower than that of those engaged only in work-related physical activities.

CONCLUSION

Korean workers who engaged in work-related physical activities exhibited more depressive symptoms. Therefore, our findings suggest that balancing work-related and leisure physical activities can help Korean workers prevent development of depressive symptoms.

The role of work-family conflict in the association between long working hours and workers' sleep disturbance and burnout: results from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey

BACKGROUND

The effect of long working hours on mental health has drawn great social attention in recent years.

AIMS

We investigated how work-family conflict mediates the associations between long working hours and sleep disturbance and burnout.

METHOD

We included 19 159 individuals from a nationally representative sample of workers in South Korea. We decomposed the total effect into a direct effect (long working hours → sleep disturbance or burnout) and an indirect effect (long working hours → work-family conflict → sleep disturbance or burnout). Logistic mediation models were used.

RESULTS

Long working hours were associated with increased risks of work-family conflict, sleep disturbance and burnout. The longer the working hours, the stronger the direct and indirect effects. The odds ratios of the direct effects of long working hours on sleep disturbance were 1.64 (95% CI 1.39-1.95) for 49-54 h/week and 1.66 (95% CI 1.37-2.01) for ≥55 h/week; those of the indirect effects were 1.16 (95% CI 1.12-1.21) for 49-54 h/week and 1.27 (95% CI 1.21-1.33) for ≥ 55 h/week. Similarly, odds ratios of the direct effects of long working hours on burnout were 1.18 (95% CI 1.05-1.33) for 49-54 h/week and 1.20 (95% CI 1.04-1.37) for ≥55 h/week; those of the indirect effects were 1.11 (95% CI 1.09-1.15) for 49-54 h/week and 1.20 (95% CI 1.16-1.24) for ≥55 h/week.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that work-family conflict mediates the associations between long working hours and sleep disturbance and burnout. Longitudinal studies should be followed to confirm the causal relationship.

Exercise Effect on Mental Health in Isolating or Quarantining Adults

INTRODUCTION: In response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), travelers are typically subject to quarantine, which is often associated with poorer mental health (MH). While the protective benefits of community-based exercise are widely recognized, the degree to which this extends to the confined setting is unknown. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of exercise on MH in isolating or quarantining adults.METHODS: A literature search of Ovid MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews limited to January 2019-September 2021 inclusive yielded five eligible studies.RESULTS: Data comprised a total of 2755 college and university students, most of whom were confined. Depending on the scale used, 24.9-76.7% of respondents demonstrated impaired MH, which improved with physical activity (PA), especially when regular and moderate or vigorous. The frequency, duration, and participants of exercise increased as lockdown progressed. One study showed that while sleep, diet, and PA all have an impact on MH, PA was the factor most strongly correlated with MH.DISCUSSION: Physical fitness should be optimized before and maintained during quarantine while exercise space and equipment should be accessible. Importantly, the sustainability of persistent quarantine must be considered given the pervasiveness of COVID-19.Chu V, Newman DG. Exercise effect on mental health in isolating or quarantining adults. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(9):686-695.

Untangling the Professional Web: Understanding the Impact of Work-Related Factors on the Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals During the Late Stages of Covid-19 Pandemic

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has determined an extraordinary challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. The extraordinary circumstances, characterized by elevated stress levels, prolonged working hours, new medical procedures, media attention, and high population expectations, have created an extremely stressful situation for healthcare professionals. This period has offered a unique opportunity to examine the medical system and the responses of healthcare practitioners to stress. This research aimed to identify the work-related factors that significantly impact the mental health of healthcare professionals.

Patients and Methods

Three mental health variables were assessed: anxiety, depression and stress. The work-related factors considered were professional degree, type of medical unit (COVID or non-COVID), the number of hours spent at work in a single shift, type of shifts, monthly on-call frequency, and number of COVID-19 treated patients per month. In the spring of 2022, three inventories and a demographic survey were distributed and completed online by 300 healthcare professionals from Timisoara's public hospitals in Romania.

Results

Among the respondents, 47.7% reported mild symptoms of anxiety, 65.3% reported moderate levels of stress, and 33% of the participants reported mild symptoms of depression. The intensity of anxious, depressive, and stress symptoms varied significantly depending on the professional degree, number of on-calls per month, the type of medical unit where the participants worked, and the number of SARS CoV-2 patients treated in the previous month.

Conclusion

Current data underlines the urgency of implementing effective strategies to reduce the stress and anxiety of medical practitioners who work with COVID-19 patients. Possible interventions encompass a variety of approaches, such as improving working conditions, reducing working hours where possible, increasing access to mental health services, and promoting team-building activities to enhance social support among colleagues. Digital mental health interventions, including online counseling and stress management programs, have also shown promise in these challenging times. Sustaining the mental health of medical practitioners is vital to support the continued provision of first-rate care to patients and to build a resilient healthcare workforce capable of navigating future health crises.

On the Importance of Mental Health in STEM

From homework to exams to proposal deadlines, STEM academia bears many stressors for students, faculty, and administrators. The increasing prevalence of burnout as an occupational phenomenon, along with anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses in the STEM community is an alarming sign that help is needed. We describe common mental illnesses, identify risk factors, and outline symptoms. We intend to provide guidance on how some people can cope with stressors while also giving advice for those who wish to help their suffering friends, colleagues, or peers. We hope to spark more conversation about this important topic that may affect us all-while also encouraging those who suffer (or have suffered) to share their stories and serve as role models for those who feel they cannot speak.

Combined effect of work from home and work during nonwork time on sleep disturbance

Background

Owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, being exposed to work from home and work during nonwork time simultaneously can lead to sleep disturbance; however, their combined effect is unclear. We aimed to investigate the combined effect of work from home and work during nonwork time on sleep disturbance.

Methods

This study used data from the Sixth Korean Working Condition Survey and included 27,473 paid workers. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between work from home, work during nonwork time, and sleep disturbance according to sex. We re-classified participants into 4 groups based on their working from home (No/Yes) and working during nonwork time (No/Yes). The relative excess risk due to interaction was calculated to examine the effect of exposure to both telecommuting and non-regular work hours on sleep disturbance.

Results

Workers exposed to work from home and work during nonwork time had significantly higher risks of sleep disturbance for all, men, and women workers (OR [95% CI]: 1.71 [1.46-2.02], 1.79 [1.43-2.23], and 1.64 [1.29-2.08] for work from home and 3.04 [2.70-3.42], 3.61 [3.09-4.22], and 2.41 [2.01-2.90] for work during nonwork time, respectively). Compared to those who were not exposed to both factors, when workers had both job factors, the ORs (95% CI) of sleep disturbance for all, men, and women were 3.93 (2.80-5.53), 5.08 (3.21-8.03), and 2.91 (1.74-4.87), respectively. The relative excess risk due to interaction of work from home and work during nonwork time was not significant for sleep disturbance.

Conclusions

Work from home and work during nonwork time were each associated with sleep disturbance, but the interaction between the two factors on sleep disturbance was not observed in both men and women.

A narrative review of the physiology and health effects of burnout associated with veterinarian-pertinent occupational stressors

Chronic workplace stress and burnout are serious problems in veterinary medicine. Although not classified as a medical condition, burnout can affect sleep patterns and contributes to chronic low grade systemic inflammation, autonomic imbalance, hormonal imbalances and immunodeficiencies, thereby increasing the risks of physical and psychological ill health in affected individuals. Cultural misconceptions in the profession often lead to perceptions of burnout as a personal failure, ideas that healthcare professionals are somehow at lower risk for suffering, and beliefs that affected individuals can or should somehow heal themselves. However, these concepts are antiquated, harmful and incorrect, preventing the design of appropriate solutions for this serious and growing challenge to the veterinary profession. Veterinarians must first correctly identify the nature of the problem and understand its causes and impacts before rational solutions can be implemented. In this first part of two companion reviews, burnout will be defined, pathophysiology discussed, and healthcare and veterinary-relevant occupational stressors that lead to burnout identified.

The impact of sleep quality on mental health in working Australians: A quasi-experimental approach

Work conditions such as job demand can impact individual sleep quality, and subsequently impact mental health. This study aims to investigate pathway effects of exogenous factors on mental health via sleep, and the direct effect of sleep quality on mental health in working Australians. We employ a novel method in public health studies, a quasi-experimental (instrumental variable) approach, which can address reciprocal relationships between sleep and mental health in order to estimate causal effect of sleep quality on mental health in a sample of 19,789 working Australians aged 25-64 from waves 2013, 2017, and 2021 of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey data. We find that high job demand, as a valid instrument, adversely affects sleep quality, and the changes in sleep quality ultimately affect mental health of working Australians. These findings highlight the need for policies that address employment conditions by reducing high work demand or work pressure to mitigate poor sleep quality in the Australian workforce, ultimately improving workers' sleep quality and promoting better mental health, overall health outcomes and productivity.

The influence of perceived stress and income on mental health in China and Germany

Background

Mental health issues affect rich and poor, young and old, and are widespread in Asia as well as in Europe. However, few studies have investigated the influence of perceived stress and income on mental health among general population in China and in Germany.

Methods

We conducted an online survey from December 2021 to February 2022 to investigate how perceived stress and income affect mental health among the general population in China (N = 1123) and in Germany (N = 1018). Accordingly, we used the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). We ran a multiple linear regression model to investigate the relationship between perceived stress, income, and mental health.

Results

Overall, we found that 53.4% participants reported mental health issues (GHQ-12 score ≥12). The proportion of our sample who reported mental health issues was higher in Germany (60.3%) than in China (44.8%). The regression model revealed that a higher perceived stress score was associated with more mental health issues in both countries (b = 0.60, p < 0.01). Individuals with a low income reported poorer mental health in Germany than those in China. Interestingly, the situation was reversed when incomes were high: individuals with a high income reported worse mental health in China than in Germany (b = -0.40, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Perceived stress has a negative impact on mental health, while income has differential effects. Mental health promotion programmes may involve teaching stress management, while considering differences in mental health outcomes in developed and developing countries.

The association between long working hours and obstructive sleep apnea assessed by STOP-BANG score: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

The relationship between night-shift work and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is well known, but that between OSA and long working hours is still unknown. This study explores the association between long working hours and OSA.

METHODS

Using cross-sectional Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2020 data, we made multiple logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios (ORs) between weekly working hours and STOP-BANG scores for OSA screening. Stratified regression models by night or rotating shift work were also made.

RESULTS

In an adjusted model of STOP-BANG high-risk versus low-risk groups, the OR in the group exceeding 40 h/wk was higher but not statistically significant, 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-2.15] compared to the group working 40 h/wk (standard working hours) or less. In the group exceeding 52 h/wk, the OR was 2.03 with statistical significance (95% CI 1.08-3.80). In the stratification analysis of daytime and night-shift work, the daytime worker results were similar to those in the non-stratified model. The point estimation values of ORs in the night-shift workers were higher than in the daytime workers; however, we did not observe a statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Long working hours can increase the risk of OSA assessed by STOP-BANG scores.

Impact of Long Working Hours on Mental Health: Evidence from China

Although previous studies have examined the impact of long working hours on mental health in China, they have not addressed the initial value and reverse causality issues. To bridge this gap in the literature, I conducted a dynamic longitudinal analysis to investigate the association between long working hours and the risk of mental illness nationwide. Using three-wave longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies conducted in 2014, 2016, and 2018, I adopted dynamic regression models with lagged long working hours variables to examine their association with the risk of mental illness. The results indicate that long working hours have positive and significant (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05) associations with the risk of mental illness (OR: 1.12~1.22). The effect is more significant for women, white-collar workers, and employees in micro-firms, compared with their counterparts (i.e., men, pink- and blue-collar workers, employees of large firms, and self-employed individuals). The results provide empirical evidence of the effects of long working hours on mental health in China, confirming the need to enforce the regulations regarding standard working hours and monitor regulatory compliance by companies, as these factors are expected to improve mental health.

Overtime work, job autonomy, and employees' subjective well-being: Evidence from China

Introduction

Chinese workers suffer more from overtime than in many countries. Excessive working hours can crowd out personal time and cause work-family imbalance, affecting workers' subjective well-being. Meanwhile, self-determination theory suggests that higher job autonomy may improve the subjective well-being of employees.

Methods

Data came from the 2018 China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS 2018). The analysis sample consisted of 4,007 respondents. Their mean age was 40.71 (SD = 11.68), and 52.8% were males. This study adopted four measures of subjective well-being: happiness, life satisfaction, health status, and depression. Confirmation factor analysis was employed to extract the job autonomy factor. Multiple linear regression methods were applied to examine the relationship between overtime, job autonomy, and subjective well-being.

Results

Overtime hours showed weak association with lower happiness (β = -0.002, p < 0.01), life satisfaction (β = -0.002, p < 0.01), and health status (β = -0.002, p < 0.001). Job autonomy was positively related to happiness (β = 0.093, p < 0.01), life satisfaction (β = 0.083, p < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between involuntary overtime and subjective well-being. Involuntary overtime might decrease the level of happiness (β = -0.187, p < 0.001), life satisfaction (β = -0.221, p < 0.001), and health status (β = -0.129, p < 0.05) and increase the depressive symptoms (β = 1.157, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

While overtime had a minimal negative effect on individual subjective well-being, involuntary overtime significantly enlarged it. Improving individual's job autonomy is beneficial for individual subjective well-being.

COVID-19-related fear, stress and depression in school principals: impacts of symptoms like COVID-19, information confusion, health-related activity limitations, working hours, sense of coherence and health literacy

BACKGROUND

School principals have been reported to have a higher prevalence of burnout and psychological problems than their colleagues. During the pandemic, extra workload and pressure from unprecedented situations potentially cause fear, stress and depression. Therefore, we aimed to explore associated factors of stress, fear of COVID-19 (F-CoV-19S) and depressive symptoms among school principals.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Taiwan from 23 June to 16 July 2021. Data of 413 school principals were collected, including socio-demographic factors, COVID-19-related factors, work-related information, health status, sense of coherence (SoC), health literacy (HL), F-CoV-19S, stress and depression. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were utilized to explore associations.

RESULTS

School principals with symptoms like COVID-19 (S-COVID-19-S), or with health-related activity limitations had a higher score of stress (B = 0.92; p = .039) (B = 1.52; p < .001) and a higher depression likelihood (OR = 3.38; p < .001) (OR = 3.06; p < .001), whereas those with a better SoC had a lower stress score (B = -1.39; p < .001) and a lower depression likelihood (OR = 0.76; p = .020). School principals confusing about COVID-19-related information had a higher score of stress (B = 2.47; p < .001) and fear (B = 3.77; p < .001). The longer working time was associated with a higher fear score (B = 1.69; p = .006). Additionally, school principals with a higher HL score had a lower stress score (B = -1.76; p < .001), a lower fear score (B = -1.85; p < .001) and a lower depression likelihood (OR = 0.53; p = .043).

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related activity limitations, S-COVID-19-S, COVID-19-related information confusion and longer working hours were positively associated with at least one mental health problem (e.g. stress, fear and depression), whereas better SoC and HL showed the benefits to mitigate fear, stress and depressive symptoms in school principals. Our study provides evidence for appropriate strategies to improve principals' mental health during the pandemic.Key messages:School principals with health-related activity limitations or with symptoms like COVID-19 were more likely to be stressed and depressed.Higher levels of stress and fear were observed in school principals who confused about COVID-19-related information, and who had longer working time than before the pandemic.Better sense of coherence and higher health literacy could potentially mitigate the fear, stress and depressive symptoms in school principals.

Gender differences in the association between lifestyle behaviors and mental health among psychiatrists in China

INTRODUCTION

Mental health symptoms are common among health professionals and the influence of lifestyle behaviors on psychiatrists' mental health is insufficiently understood. Based on a nationwide sample, we aimed to survey the lifestyle behaviors and mental health status among psychiatrists, and to identify the co-occurrence and gender differences in lifestyle behaviors.

METHODS

Data were collected through an anonymous questionnaire among psychiatrists in China. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate mental health symptoms. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to explore the co-occurrence of lifestyle behaviors. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of demographic and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

4520 psychiatrists were included in the analysis with 11.5 % of them reporting smoking, 10 % reporting alcohol misuse, 35.2 % reporting physical inactivity, and 23.1 % reporting insomnia. The prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were 29.2 %, 34.5 %, and 12.2 %, respectively. Significant gender differences were found in smoking (P < 0.001), alcohol misuse (P < 0.001), and physical inactivity (P < 0.001), but not in insomnia. Based on these four high-risk health behaviors above, three lifestyle behavior clusters with huge gender differences were identified through the LCA. Accordingly, the unhealthy lifestyle classes, though defined differently for males and females, were significantly associated with depression, anxiety, and stress.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-occurrence and significant gender differences in multiple lifestyle behaviors exist in this group, highlighting the need for gender-specific comprehensive interventions against mental health symptoms and the urgency of promoting their well-being.

Associations between Drinking Behaviors and Meaning in Life: Evidence from Primary Care Professionals in China

(1) Background: Although the associations between drinking behaviors and emotional problems have been supported in several previous studies, the associations between drinking behaviors and meaning in life have not been explored until now. We aimed to test the associations between drinking behaviors and meaning in life among primary care professionals, after controlling for depression. (2) Methods: In the current study, we collected 1453 valid questionnaires based on a cross-sectional design. Meaning in life, drinking behaviors, physical diseases, depression, work-related variables, and some other social-demographic variables were evaluated. (3) Results: The results support that after controlling for depression, regular milk drinking (β = 1.387, p = 0.026), and regular juice drinking (β = 2.316, p = 0.030) were associated with higher meaning in life, while regular water drinking (β = −1.448, p = 0.019) was negatively associated with meaning in life. In addition to this, the results showed that the older age (β = 0.098, p = 0.001), preventive medicine majors (β = 4.281, p = 0.013), working fewer days per week (β = −0.942, p = 0.004), licensed (assistant) technician qualification (β = 2.921, p = 0.036), and no depression (β = −0.203, p < 0.001) were positively associated with meaning in life. (4) Conclusion: This study supported the association between drinking behaviors and meaning in life, even after controlling depression. These findings imply that we can further explore this association and its mechanisms in future studies.

Protective and Vulnerability Factors of Municipal Workers' Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study

Work is fundamental to an individual's mental health; however, an unfavourable work environment can lead to mental health problems. Despite existing studies addressing workers' mental health, it is essential to understand the reality of specific contexts to design effective tailored interventions. Thus, this study aimed to examine the influence of potential protective and vulnerability factors on municipal workers' depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress levels, and burnout. A cross-sectional study was conducted with data collection performed between July and December 2021 using online self-report measures. The sample comprised 115 municipal workers. The findings revealed that psychological vulnerability is a significant vulnerability factor for the presence of mental health symptoms. In addition, job satisfaction was found to be a significant protective factor for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout of the municipal workers. The results of this study enhance the understanding of factors that influence worker mental health, which may facilitate the proper planning of specific interventions to promote mental health in the workplace.

Concurrent trajectories of self-rated health and working hour patterns in health care shift workers: A longitudinal analysis with 8-year follow-up

Background

The association between health and working hours is hypothesized to be reciprocal, but few longitudinal studies have examined changes in both health and working hour patterns over time. We examined combined trajectories of self-related health and two working hour patterns (working <35 h/week and working night shifts) and the extent to which these trajectories were predicted by employees' lifestyle and mental health.

Methods

Participants of this cohort study with a 8-year follow-up were 5,947 health care shift workers. We linked self-reports of health from three repeated surveys with objective pay-roll based data on working hours. Using group-based multi-trajectory analysis we identified concurrent trajectories for self-rated health and working hour patterns. We examined their associations with baseline lifestyle-related factors (smoking, at-risk alcohol use, obesity, and physical inactivity) and mental health (sleep problems and psychological distress) using multinomial regression analysis.

Results

Three combined trajectories of self-rated health and working <35 h/week and four combined trajectories of self-rated health and night work were identified. Unhealthy lifestyle and poor mental health were associated with trajectories of moderate and declining health. Sleep problems were linked with working <35 h/week. Younger age and good mental health were associated with a combined trajectory of good health and continued night shift work.

Conclusion

Trajectories of suboptimal and declining health are associated with trajectories of reducing working hours and leaving night work, and are more common in employees with unhealthy lifestyle, sleep problems, and psychological distress.

Work schedule characteristics associated with sleep disturbance among healthcare professionals in Europe and South Korea: a report from two cross-sectional surveys

Background

Healthcare professionals worldwide are prone to sleep disturbance. Such sleep disturbance is associated with lower patient safety and quality of care. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the prevalence of sleep disturbance and determine the effect of work schedule characteristics on sleep disturbance among healthcare professionals in Europe and South Korea.

Methods

We used the sixth European Working Conditions Survey and the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey for analyses. The study included 2285 healthcare professionals aged 18–65 years. Work schedule characteristics included shift work, night work, working hours per week, long work hours (i.e., more than 10 hours per shift), quick return to work, having to come to work on short notice, and changes in work schedules. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results

The overall prevalence of sleep disturbance was 37.7%. The multivariate logistic regression model indicated that long work hours, quick return to, having to come to work on short notice, and changes in work schedules were significant factors associated with sleep disturbance among healthcare professionals.

Conclusion

The findings revealed that several work schedule-related factors were associated with sleep disturbances in healthcare professionals in Europe and Korea. Institutions and policymakers should implement strategies and policies to reduce the unpredictability of work schedules to ensure an adequate rest period between shifts and to reduce sleep disturbances.

The Effects of Long Working Hours on Mental Health Among Resident Physicians in Saudi Arabia

Purpose

To examine the effect of long working hours on anxiety and depression among resident physicians working in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study using an anonymous and confidential self-administered electronic questionnaire. Mental health status (depression and anxiety) is measured using hospital anxiety and depression scale. A multi-stage stratified sampling technique was used. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 24.0. The Chi-square test and ordinal logistic regression (OLR) were used to test the association.

Results

A total of 258 medical residents participated in the study. The prevalence of anxiety was 39.5% (n=102) and depression was 20.9% (n=54). In multivariate OLR against anxiety, working more than 64 hours per week was significantly associated (p=0.013) with an increase in the odds of observing a higher level of anxiety (odds ratio=2.91, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.25–6.77) compared with working up to 40 hours per week after adjusting for age, amount of sleep and exposure to injustice. For the depression multivariate OLR, it would increase the odds of observing a higher level of depression for working 41–48, 49–64 and more than 64 hours per week by 2.21 (95% CI:1.07–4.58, P=0.033), 2.07 (95% CI:1.01–4.27, P=0.049) and 2.37 (95% CI:1.03–5.50, P=0.044) respectively, compared with working up to 40 hours per week and adjusting for the amount of sleep and exposure to injustice.

Conclusion

Resident physicians are at increased risk of developing anxiety and depression which is influenced by long working hours and a variety of other factors. Therefore, attention needs to be paid to this association. The implementation of interventions for the prevention and screening of physicians’ mental health disorders is needed.

Bidirectional associations between chronic low back pain and sleep quality: A cohort study with schoolteachers

AIMS

Although both chronic low back pain (cLBP) and sleep problems are prevalent among active workers, the relation between these variables is not well established. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional association between cLBP and sleep in schoolteachers.

METHODS

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and cLBP were self-reported by 530 schoolteachers in Londrina, Brazil, at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and mental health variables.

RESULTS

Poor sleep quality at baseline was associated with cLBP at follow-up after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (OR=1.61; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.06, 2.47). Changes in the PSQI score over time were also associated with a higher likelihood of cLBP at follow-up (OR=1.13; 95% CI=1.07, 1.20 for each 1-point increase in the PSQI score), regardless of mental health condition. cLBP at baseline was associated with worse sleep quality at follow-up after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (OR=1.56; 95% CI=1.02, 2.37). The presence of cLBP also changed the PSQI score over time (ß coefficient=1.153; 95% CI=0.493, 1.814).

CONCLUSIONS

Worse sleep quality was prospectively and bidirectionally associated with cLBP. Concretely, changes in PSQI values after 2 years of follow-up increased the likelihood of reporting cLBP, and baseline cLBP was associated with sleep quality worsening (i.e., higher score in the PSQI). Mental health conditions such as self-rated health, depression and anxiety play a relevant confounding role in the bidirectional associations between sleep and chronic low back pain.