The negative impact of long working hours on mental health in young Korean workers

The impact of long working hours on daily sodium intake

Background

Long working hours are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, yet the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. The study examines how occupational factors like working hours, shift work, and employment status correlate with dietary choices and sodium intake, impacting hypertension risk.

Methods

This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020. The dataset included 8,471 respondents, all of whom were wage workers aged 20 or older and reported working at least 36 hours per week. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with or are currently diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia were excluded. The average daily sodium intake was assessed via a 24-hour dietary recall method. Average weekly working hours were categorized into 3 groups: 36-40 hours, 41-52 hours, and over 52 hours. Multiple logistic regression models were used.

Results

Study findings revealed that 83.7% of participants exceeded the recommended daily sodium intake of 2 g set by the World Health Organization. After adjusting for confounding factors, a positive correlation was observed between average working hours and daily sodium intake. Among males, statistical significance was found in the group with average weekly working hours of 41-52 hours (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.17; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.30) and the group exceeding 52 hours (PR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09-1.38) when comparing the fourth quartile of daily sodium intake to the combined quartiles of Q1, Q2, and Q3. Among females, no significance was noted.

Conclusions

Long working hours were associated with increased sodium intake, primarily among male workers. This connection is likely attributed to having less time for home-cooked meals, resulting in higher fast food consumption and dining out. A workplace intervention promoting healthy eating and reducing stress is essential to lower sodium consumption and mitigate hypertension risk.

Association between long working hours and the development of suicidal ideation among female workers: An 8-year population-based study using the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women & Family (2012-2020)

Long working hours and overwork have recently emerged as pressing public health concerns. We explored the association between long working hours and suicidal ideation in female workers. A total of 8017 women (24,331 observations) from the fourth to eighth waves of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2012-2020) were analyzed. To address the repeated measurements within each participant, we employed a generalized estimating equation to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.9% for those working 35-40 h/week and 4.4% for those working ≥55 h/week. Compared to individuals working 35-40 h/week, those working ≥55 h/week were more likely to experience concurrent suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]:1.85 [1.43-2.39]). The OR (95% CI) of the association between long working hours and onset of suicidal ideation in the subsequent wave was 1.69 (1.20-2.38) for ≥55 h/week. In subgroup analysis, this association was pronounced among workers with low-income levels (OR [95% CI]: 1.97 [1.29-3.02]) and blue-collar occupations (OR [95% CI]: 2.27 [1.41-3.66]). Policy efforts are required to protect the mental health of female workers exposed to long working hours.

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.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression among Homeless Young Adults: A Social Determinants of Health Perspective

Homelessness is a pervasive issue in the United States that presents significant challenges to public health. Homeless young adults (HYAs) are at particular risk for increased incidence and severity of depression. Using primary survey data (n = 205) collected in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, Arizona, from June to August 2022, this study aims to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and depression among HYAs. We adopted the ACEs 10-item scale to measure childhood traumatic experiences, whereas depression was measured by using a PHQ-4 depression scale and diagnosed depression. Regression models were conducted to test the relationships between ACEs and depression outcomes while controlling for the covariates at the individual, interpersonal, and socioeconomic/living environment levels. The average PHQ-4 score was 5.01 (SD = 3.59), and 59.69% of HYAs reported being diagnosed previously with depression. The mean ACEs score was 5.22 out of 10. Other things being equal, for every one unit increase in ACEs scores, the odds of being diagnosed with depression increased by 11.5%, yet it was not statistically significant, while the PHQ-4 score increased by 0.445 (p < 0.001). Overall, HYAs were disproportionately affected by depression. This study elucidates the complex relationship between ACEs and depression among HYAs.

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 impact of working hours on pregnancy intention in childbearing-age women in Korea, the country with the world's lowest fertility rate

This study aimed to assess factors affecting pregnancy intention among women of reproductive age in Korea. We analyzed data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a population-based survey that included 22,731 women aged 15-49. As age was associated with birth year and was found to be a confounding factor in the analysis of participants' characteristics, we used propensity score matching to assess the characteristics of pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women of the same age and birth year. We also employed the XGBoost machine learning model to identify the most important factors related to pregnancy intentions. Our feature importance analysis showed that weekly working hours were the most significant factor affecting pregnancy intentions. Additionally, we performed cluster analysis and logistic regression models to determine optimal weekly working hours. Cluster analysis identified participants into three distinct groups based on their characteristics, indicating that the group with an average of 34.4±12.9 hours per week had the highest likelihood of becoming pregnant. Logistic regression was used to analyze the odds of pregnancy for every 5-hour increase in weekly working hours. The results of logistic regression indicated that women who worked between 35-45 hours per week had higher odds of pregnancy, with significant odds ratios of 2.009 (95% confidence interval: 1.581-2.547, p < .001) for 40-45 hours per week and 1.450 (95% confidence interval: 1.001-2.040, p < .05) for 35-40 hours per week, compared to women working other hours. In Korea, the standard workweek is typically 40 hours; however, Koreans often work considerably longer hours, with the second-highest number of working hours among OECD countries in 2022. This study suggests that strict monitoring of working hours and expansion of telecommuting for childbearing-age women are important factors in increasing the fertility rate in Korea.

Working hours and the onset of suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms: A 10-year nationwide longitudinal study in South Korea (2012-2022)

Long working hours are associated with adverse health outcomes. We investigated the association between working hours and suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. We analyzed a nationally representative sample of 11,116 Korean workers, comprising 64,661 observations from 2012 to 2022, to investigate how working hours were associated with mental health problems. To account for repeated measurements in each participant, we employed a generalized estimating equation to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Of the total observations, 13.1% reported working ≥55 h/week. The RR (95% CI) of the association between long working hours and onset of suicidal ideation in the subsequent year was 1.20 (0.95-1.53) for 41-48 h, 1.35 (1.02-1.78) for 49-54 h, and 1.56 (1.23-1.98) for ≥55 h/week, compared to 35-40 h/week. The RR (95% CI) of the association between long working hours and onset of depressive symptoms in the subsequent year was 1.19 (1.07-1.34) for 41-48 h, 1.11 (0.97-1.28) for 49-54 h, and 1.24 (1.10-1.40) for ≥55 h per week, compared to 35-40 h/week. Those working fewer than 35 h/week also had an increased risk of suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. Policy interventions are needed to reduce excess working hours and protect workers' mental health.

Statement by the Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine on the proposed reform of working hours in South Korea

The current 52-hour workweek in South Korea consists of 40 hours of regular work and 12 hours of overtime. Although the average working hours in South Korea is declining, it is still 199 hours longer than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average of 1,716 hours per year. In view to this, the South Korean government has now proposed to reform the workweek, mainly intending to increase the workweek to 69 hours when the workload is heavy. This reform, by increasing the labor intensity due to long working hours, goes against the global trend of reducing work hours for a safe and healthy working environment. Long working hours can lead to increased cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, industrial accidents, mental health problems, and safety accidents due to lack of concentration. In conclusion, the Korean government's working hour reform plan can have a negative impact on workers' health, and therefore it should be thoroughly reviewed and modified.

A high sense of coherence can mitigate suicidal ideation associated with insomnia

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to investigate whether insomnia is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) among Japanese workers by conducting a multi-level analysis with sense of coherence (SOC) as a random effect.

PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 19,481 workers in Tsukuba, Japan. Data from 7,175 participants aged 20-65 years were included in the analysis. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used as the independent variable, and SI over the past year was used as the dependent variable. SOC was measured using the five-point SOC-13 scale, and socioeconomic and health factors were investigated as covariates. Participants were divided into three groups (low, medium, and high) based on their SOC scores. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS

In the high-SOC group, only one person had SI. In a multi-level logistic analysis that excluded the high SOC group, insomnia was found to be associated with SI (OR = 2.26, 95% CI [1.75, 2.93]). Furthermore, the AIS sub-items "Final awakening earlier than desired" (OR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.05, 1.50]) and "Sense of well-being during the day" (OR = 1.63, 95% CI [1.34, 1.99]) were associated with SI. 8.95% or 11% of the variation in the presence or absence of SI was found to be explained by differences between SOC groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights that insomnia is associated with SI, and that high SOC may reduce SI even under insomnia. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether high SOC reduces SI due to insomnia.

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.

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.

Determinants of symptom burden related to bowel preparation for colonoscopy

BACKGROUND

Symptoms developing during bowel preparation are major concerns among subjects who refuse the procedure.

AIMS

We aimed to explore the determinants of symptoms occurring during preparation among patients undergoing elective colonoscopy.

METHODS

This is a prospective multicenter study conducted in 10 Italian hospitals. A multidimensional approach collecting socio-demographic, clinical, psychological and occupational information before colonoscopy through validated instruments was used. Outcome was a four-category cumulative score based on symptoms occurring during preparation, according to the Mayo Clinic Bowel Prep Tolerability Questionnaire, weighted by intensity. Missing values were addressed through multiple imputation. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated through multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

1137 subjects were enrolled. Severe symptoms were associated with female sex (OR=3.64, 95%CI 1.94-6.83), heavier working hours (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.01-1.25), previous gastrointestinal symptoms (OR=7.81, 95% CI 2.36-25.8 for high score), somatic symptoms (OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.06-4.49 for multiple symptoms), day-before regimen (OR=2.71, 95%CI 1.28-5.73). On the other hand, age ≥60 years (OR=0.10, 95% CI 0.02-0.44) and good mood (p=0.042) were protective factors. A high-risk profile was identified, including women with low mood and somatic symptoms (OR=15.5, 95%CI 4.56-52.7).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified previously unreported determinants of symptoms burdening bowel preparation and identified a particularly vulnerable phenotype. Symptoms during preparation especially impact heavier working activity.

A Shorter Form of the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale: Construction and Factorial Validation

While workplace mental health has attracted attention in many countries, work motivation remains under-researched. Research identified that work motivation is associated with many organisational positive outcomes including workplace mental health. One well-recognised measure is the Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS). Conceptualised on the Self-Determination Theory, this 18-item scale examines six types of work motivation: Intrinsic Motivation, Integrated Regulation, Identified Regulation, Introjected Regulation, External Regulation, and Amotivation. WEIMS can be too long for busy people at work. Accordingly, we constructed and validated a shorter form of WEIMS (SWEIMS), comprising 12 items that evaluate the same six work motivation types. Data collected from two professional samples were analysed to construct and validate the factorial structure: 155 construction workers (138 males and 17 females, Age 40.28 ± 11.05) and 103 hospitality workers (47 males and 56 females, Age 28.2 ± 8.6 years). Correlation analyses and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. Two items from each type were selected based on the strength of correlations with the target WEIMS subscale. SWEIMS demonstrated adequate internal consistency (α ≧ 0.65), and strong correlations with the original version of WEIMS (r = 0.73) in both samples. SWEIMS confirmatory factor analysis replicated the six-factor model of the original SWEIMS. SWEIMS can be a reliable, valid, and user-friendly alternative to WEIMS.

Predictors of Satisfaction With Work Environment in the Context of a Mismatch in Working Hours: A Nationwide, Large-Scale, Cross-Sectional Study

This nationwide, large-scale, cross-sectional study has hypothesized that there might be differences in workers' satisfaction with work environment depending on demographic, socio-economic, and work characteristics in the context of a mismatch between actual and preferred working hours. The current study is a secondary data analysis of the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. A total of 29 694 subjects (n = 29 694) were finally included in the current study. Female gender (β = -.372, OR 0.689 [95% CI 0.646-0.736]), age of ≥60 years old (β = .226, OR 1.253 [95% CI 1.089-1.441]), graduation from middle school (β = -.320, OR 0.726 [95% CI 0.616-0.856]), college (β = .492, OR 1.636 [95% CI 1.371-1.952]), or university (β = .826, OR 2.283 [95% CI 1.918-2.718]), fixed period of work (β = -.105, OR 0.901 [95% CI 0.823-0.986]), full-time employment (β = -.105, OR 0.900 [95% CI 0.813-0.996]), the engagement in public sector (β = .544, OR 1.722 [95% CI 1.532-1.935]), private-public partnership organization (β = .605, OR 1.832 [95% CI 1.342-2.500]) or NPO or NGO (β = .780, OR 2.182 [95% CI 1.522-3.127]), regular side job (β = -.929, OR 0.395 [95% CI 0.289-0.539]), or temporary side job (β = -.330, OR 0.719 [95% CI 0.533-0.970]), membership of multiple teams (β = -.501, OR 0.606 [95% CI 0.552-0.666]), labor union (β = .143, OR 1.154 [95% CI 1.047-1.273]), and better health status (β = .977, OR 2.657 [95% CI 1.175-6.007]) were predictors of satisfaction with work environment in the context of a mismatch between actual and desired working hours. Based on the current results, it can be concluded that female gender, age of ≥60 years old, graduation from middle school, college, or university, fixed period of work, full-time employment, the engagement in public sector, private-public partnership organization or NPO or NGO, regular side job or temporary side job, membership of multiple teams, labor union, and better health status were predictors of satisfaction with work environment.

Working from home, work-time control and mental health: Results from the Brazilian longitudinal study of adult health (ELSA-Brasil)

This cross-sectional study investigated the association between work-time control (WTC), independently and in combination with hours worked (HW), and four mental health outcomes among 2,318 participants of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) who worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. WTC was assessed by the WTC Scale, and mental health outcomes included depression, anxiety, stress (measured by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, DASS-21), and self-rated mental health. Logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among women, long HW were associated with stress (OR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.11–2.20) and poor self-rated mental health (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.13–2.38), whereas they were protective against anxiety among men (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.37–0.93). In both sexes, weak WTC was associated with all mental health outcomes. Among women, the long HW/weak WTC combination was associated with all mental health outcomes, and short HW/weak WTC was associated with anxiety and stress. Among men, long HW/strong WTC was protective against depression and stress, while short HW/strong WTC and short HW/weak WTC was associated with all mental health outcomes. In both sexes, weak WTC, independently and in combination with HW, was associated with all mental health outcomes. WTC can improve working conditions, protect against mental distress, and fosterwork-life balance for those who work from home.

How do high-performance work systems affect work fatigue: The mediating effect of job responsibility and role overload

Work fatigue refers to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion, resulting in the inability to work. Hitherto research indicate a close relationship between high-performance work systems and work fatigue, and there may be a double-edged sword effect of high-performance work systems on work fatigue. However, a comprehensive theoretical framework has not been developed to understand the relationship between them. Based on the challenge-hindrance stress model, this study employs role overload and job responsibility as mediating variables in a conceptual framework to understand the impact of high-performance work systems on work fatigue. Using the partial least square structural equation model and a sample of 360 employees in China, the mediating effects of role overload and job responsibility were confirmed. Further, the internal mechanisms of how high-performance work systems affect work fatigue are discussed, its adverse effects are confirmed, and its practical implications are proposed.

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.

The Influence of Long Working Hours, Occupational Stress, and Well-Being on Depression Among Couriers in Zhejiang, China

Objective:

This study aimed to examine the association between long working hours, occupational stress, depression, and well-being, and to explore the intermediary effect of occupational stress and well-being between working hours and depression among couriers in Zhejiang, China.

Methods:

The study used a cluster random sampling method to select 1,200 couriers from mainstream express companies in Zhejiang, China. The data were collected and analyzed using the Core Occupational Stress Scale (COSS) to measure occupational stress, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale to evaluate depression, and the World Health Organization five-item Well-Being Index (WHO-5) scale to assess well-being. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship among the variables.

Results:

The phenomenon of long working hours (75.1%) was quite common among couriers in Zhejiang, China. Working hours had a direct positive effect on depression (β = 0.008, p < 0.001) and on occupational stress (β = 0.009, p < 0.001), and working hours had a negative effect on well-being (β = −0.013, p < 0.001). Occupational stress had a direct positive effect on depression (β = 0.272, p < 0.001), but well-being had no significant direct effect on depression. Working hours had an indirect effect on depression through the mediating effect of occupational stress while the mediating effect of well-being was not found.

Conclusion:

Long working hours is associated with occupational stress, well-being, and depression. Our results confirmed that working hours, occupational stress, and well-being were strong predicators of depression. Working hours had a significant indirect effect on depression via occupational stress. The result of this study showed that decreasing working hours and reducing occupational stress would be effective for couriers to prevent depression. However, more studies are needed to verify the relationship between working hours and depression.

The Effect of Worktime Control on Overtime Employees' Mental Health and Work-Family Conflict: The Mediating Role of Voluntary Overtime

Overtime has become a widespread phenomenon in the current information age that creates a high speed working pace and fierce competition in the high technology global economy. Based on the time-regulation mechanism and effort-recovery model, we examined the effect of worktime control (WTC) on mental health and work-family conflict (WFC) among overtime employees, and whether voluntary overtime mediated the relationships. We also examined two separate dimensions of WTC (control over time-off and control over daily hours). The results showed that control over time-off was related to decreased depression, anxiety, stress and WFC, while control over daily hours was related to decreased stress and WFC. Generally, control over time-off was beneficial to females and employees with dependents. Furthermore, mediation results showed that voluntary overtime was a complete mediator of relationships between WTC and depression and anxiety as well as a partial mediator of the relationship between WTC and stress. However, this study did not find a mediating effect of voluntary overtime on the WTC-WFC relationship. Limitations and practical implications are discussed.

Work-Related Stress, Health Status, and Status of Health Apps Use in Korean Adult Workers

Although health apps have been developed and utilized in many countries, there is no baseline study about what percentage of Korean workers use these types of health apps. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the work-related stress, health status, and utilization of health apps of Korean adult workers. This descriptive study included 95 adults in South Korea. Demographic variables, work-related stress, health status, and utilization of health apps were obtained using an online self-reported survey. Descriptive analyses were used to explore prevalence of each variable. This study found that almost 65% of the participants fell into the higher work-related stress group. About 41.6% of the participants in this sample evaluated their general health status as fair to poor with 26.8% being overweight to obese and 11.6% having hypertension. However, only about 33.7% of the sample have used health apps. Therefore, utilization of health apps as health and stress management tools should be encouraged at a public health level.

Mental health problems and their related factors among seafarers: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Seafarers are often reported to be engaged in a dangerous physical and psychosocial work environment. However, mental health status among seafarers has not been focused on compared with physical health issues. Systematic, comprehensive reviews of mental health problems and their relevant factors are lacking. This review aimed to clarify beneficial approaches to the mental health problems faced among seafarers using a scoping review to systematically map the evidence regarding mental health issues and their related factors.

METHODS

Studies were searched on MEDLINE/PubMed, Science Direct, Academic search complete using EBSCOhost databases, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of science on 20, August 2020. This scoping review was conducted based on the framework of Arksey and O'Malley and Preferred Reporting items for Scoping Reviews flow diagram. The inclusion criteria were studies which determined the relationship between factors relevant to working conditions or working environment, and mental health in seafarers, and etc. Data were narratively summarized and reported.

RESULTS

Twenty-four were included in this review while two major findings were clarified. Firstly, the prevalence of stress, depressive symptoms, and burnout have been mentioned for decades. Secondly, factors related to mental health and psychological issues can be categorized as individual and work environmental factors. The individual factors include experience, age, health status (high BMI, poor sleep, and diabetics), and resilience. The work environmental factors consist of two parts. Job demands comprise pressure from contractors/customers/time, working hours, ship department, job title, voyage episodes, period of seafaring, noise, and vibration. The job resources included instrumental support, team cohesion, shipboard caring and effort-reward imbalance.

CONCLUSIONS

A beneficial approach to mental health problems faced among seafarers is necessary to understand comprehensively at individual and organization levels. Promoting health behaviors, training resilience, and managing obesity and chronic diseases comprise individual level strategies. Providing seafarers with adequate instrumental support, and practical support to communicate with customers, managing their distinct work-rest hours and adequate effort-reward balance comprise organization level methods.

Association Between Changes in Depressive Symptoms and Hazardous Drinking: Findings From the Korea Welfare Panel Study (2013-2018)

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association between changes in depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking among South Korean adults. Participants/Methods: This study was conducted using a sample drawn from participants enrolled in the Korea Welfare Panel Study (KoWePS) from 2013 to 2018. Hazardous drinking was defined as a score of 11 points for men and seven points for women on the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using an 11-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. A generalized estimating equation model was used to analyze the association between changes in depressive symptoms and hazardous drinking. Results: Of the 12,878 people registered with KoWePS and without follow-up losses from 2013 to 2018, a total of 2,341 were included in this study, excluding those under the age of 19 and those with missing data. Persistent depressive symptoms (men, odds ratio [OR]: 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.48-3.21; women, OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.66-4.22) and the changes from non-depressive symptoms to depressive symptoms (men, adjusted OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.80-2.64; women, OR: 1.71, 95% CI: 1.27-2.29) increased the likelihood of hazardous drinking. Conclusions: Persistent depressive symptoms and changes from non-depressive to depressive symptoms are associated with increased prevalence of hazardous drinking. This suggests that an evaluation of the underlying mental illness or emotion should be made when counseling for abstaining from alcohol for chronic drinkers or the general public.

The effect of job insecurity, employment type and monthly income on depressive symptom: analysis of Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging data

Background

In modern society, depression is serious issue that causes socioeconomic and family burden. To decrease the incidence of depression, risk factors should be identified and managed. Among many risk factors for depression, this study examined socioeconomic risk factors for depression.

Methods

We utilized first (2006), second (2008), and third (2010)-wave data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). Depressive symptom was measured with the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Short Form (CES-D-10) in the survey in 2008 and 2010. Three risk factors including job security, employment type and monthly income were measured in the survey in 2006. The association between risk factors and depressive symptom was analyzed by Cox proportional-hazard model.

Results

We analyzed data from 1,105 workers and hazard ratios (HRs) for 3 risk factors were significant entirely. In addition, regular worker with high income group is the most vulnerable group of poor job insecurity on depression among male workers (HR: 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–2.81). Finally, HRs for 7 groups who had at least 1 risk factor had higher HRs compared to groups who had no risk factors after stratifying 3 risk factors. In the analysis, significantly vulnerable groups were total 5 groups and the group who had highest HR was temporary/daily workers with poor job security (HR: 2.51; 95% CI: 1.36–4.64). The results concerning women, regardless of job type, were non-significant.

Conclusions

This study presented one or more risk factors among poor job security, low income, temporary/daily employment type increase hazard for depressive symptom in 2 or 4 years after the exposure. These results inform policy to screen for and protect against the risk of depression in vulnerable groups.

Validity and reliability of the Subjective Happiness Scale Arabic version among Saudi working women

Objective

Measuring Saudi women's subjective happiness during the present period that has brought great transformations in gender equality in KSA is essential to gather reliable information about the present situation of women in KSA. This study intends to test the validity and reliability of the ‘Subjective Happiness Scale’ Arabic version (SHS-A) when applied to Saudi working women. This study also examines the factors that affect the subjective happiness of Saudi working women.

Methods

This validation study was conducted among 300 Saudi working women to test the psychometric properties of the SHS-A. Validity was evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Multiple regression analysis was also carried out to examine the factors affecting subjective happiness.

Results

The PCA identified one factor that explained approximately 66.0% of the variance of the model. The CFA revealed the following findings: normed fit index = 0.982, comparative fit index = 0.990, Tucker–Lewis index = 0.971, goodness-of-fit index = 0.986, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.929, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.086. The x²/df value was 2.09 (x² = 4.189, p = .123). The Cronbach's alpha of the SHS-A in the first and second samples was 0.824 and 0.830, respectively. Employment position, working hours, and monthly salary were found to influence the subjective happiness of Saudi working women.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that supports the validity and reliability of the SHS-A when used among Saudi working women. This valid and reliable tool can open further avenues and opportunities for advancing women's research agenda in KSA and other Arabic-speaking countries for economic and societal progress.

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SHS-A has acceptable validity and reliability for Saudi working women.

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SHS-A can be used to measure Saudi working women's subjective happiness.

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SHS-A can be used for research, policymaking, and policy evaluation related to women's happiness.

Working hours are closely associated with depressive mood and suicidal ideation in Korean adults: a nationwide cross-sectional study

Long working hours have been presumed to negatively influence health. However, evidence is lacking regarding any associations of working hours with depressive mood or suicidal ideation. We investigated the relationships of working hours with depressive mood and suicidal ideation in a representative sample of the Korean general population. We analyzed data collected by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys VI and VII (2013–2018). Depressive mood and suicidal ideation were identified through self-reporting. We divided participants into four groups according to weekly working hours: 30–40, 41–50, 51–60, and > 60 h/week. Sampling weights were applied to obtain estimates for the general Korean population. We analyzed 14,625 participants, of whom 5383 (36.8%), 4656 (31.8%), 2553 (17.5%), and 2033 (13.9%) worked 30–40, 41–50, 51–60, and > 60 h/week, respectively. In these groups, 3.6%, 4.4%, 5.2%, and 6.3% of the participants reported depressive mood, while 1.8%, 1.9%, 2.2%, and 3.6% reported suicidal ideation. In multiple regression analyses, compared with the 30–40 h/week group, the adjusted odds ratios of the 41–50, 51–60, and > 60 h/week groups for depressive mood were 1.35 (1.08–1.69), 1.5 (1.14–1.97), and 1.6 (1.19–2.14). A similar trend was evident for suicidal ideation (odds ratios 1.16 [0.82–1.63], 1.48 [0.99–2.21], and 2.29 [1.53–3.42]). Long working hours are significantly associated with depressive mood and suicidal ideation.

Determinants of Positive and Negative Affect among Adolescents and Young Adults in Indonesia: A Population-Based Survey

Positive and negative affect are crucial for mental health. However, the determinant factors of positive and negative affect have yet to be examined between adolescents and young adults. This study aimed to explore the determinant factors of positive and negative affect, comparing their effects among adolescents and young adults and among the two sexes in Indonesia. We undertook secondary data analyses of the Indonesia Family Life Survey for this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics, physical and mental health-related variables, and childhood family experiences from 2014 were used as independent variables, and positive and negative affect were used as the dependent variables. Hierarchical linear regression was performed to investigate the factors associated with positive and negative affect and to compare their effects between adolescents and young adults. The hierarchical linear regression revealed that sociodemographic characteristics, perceived health, smoking, chronic condition, acute morbidity, sleep, childhood family experiences, depression, personality type, life satisfaction, happiness, and experience of disasters were associated with positive and negative affect among adolescents and young adults in Indonesia. Identification of positive and negative affect as well as their associated factors among adolescents and young adults should be considered when developing preventive programs in the community.

Prevalence of depression and suicide ideation in Hong Kong doctors: a cross-sectional study

Depression amongst physicians can lead to poor individual and institutional outcomes. This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation amongst doctors in Hong Kong. Doctors who graduated from medical school at the University of Hong Kong between 1995 and 2014 were invited to participate in a survey measuring depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm, lifestyle behaviours, career satisfaction and socio-demographic characteristics. Data collection occurred between January and April 2016. The prevalence of screened-positive depression was 16.0% and 15.3% of respondents reported having suicidal ideation. Amongst those with positive depression screening scores, less than half reported having a diagnosed mood disorder. Sleeping fewer hours was associated with higher depression scores (P < 0.001) and an increased odds of meeting the cut-off for depression (P < 0.001). Factors associated with suicidal ideation included being unmarried (P = 0.012) and sleeping fewer hours (P = 0.022). Hong Kong doctors appear to have high rates of undiagnosed depression, and high levels of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideations. There is a need for greater awareness of the morbidity due to depression and to promote better mental health help-seeking among physicians. Barriers to mental health help-seeking need to be addressed and appropriate resources allocated to reduce suffering.

The Impact of Long Working Hours on Cognitive Function: A Follow-Up Study with Gender Stratification

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that long working hours can have adverse consequences on health and possibly trigger biological processes that mediate the relationship between long working hours and cognitive decline.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether long working hours and the overall duration such exposure is associated with a decline in cognitive function.

METHODS

Data obtained during the Korean Longitudinal Study on Aging (n = 2,518) during the period 2006-2018 were used to explore the relationship between long working hours and cognitive decline. Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) scores were used to evaluate cognitive function. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were used to evaluate declines in K-MMSE scores over the 12-year study period.

RESULTS

Overall HR (95% CI) for a decline in cognitive function in long working hours group was 1.13 (0.73-1.17). When categorized by sex, women with long working hours had an HR (95% CI) of 1.50 (1.05-2.22), K-MMSE scores decreased significantly after working long hours for 5 years (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The study furthers understanding of the effects of long working hours on cognitive decline among female workers. Further research is required to determine the effects of long working hours on cognitive functions.