Variability in daily or weekly working hours and self-reported mental health problems in Korea, Korean working condition survey, 2017

Abstract

Background Working hour regulation in Korea is being revised to allow increasing variability in number of working hours. We sought to investigate the association between variability in the number of daily or weekly working hours with or without long working hours (> 52 h/w) and mental health among South Korean workers. Methods We used data from 28,345 full-time, non-shift employed workers working more than 30 h per week participating in the Korean Working Condition Survey in 2017. We defined six groups according to variability in daily or weekly working hours (same number vs different number) and weekly working hours (31–40, 41–52, > 52 h per week). Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) for self-reported depressive symptoms and anxiety were calculated using workers with same number of working hours/31–40 h per week as the reference. Results Variability in number of work hours every day or week combined with > 52 working hours per week showed the highest risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 5.13, 95% CI 3.25–8.11) and anxiety (OR = 3.75, 95% CI 2.39–5.88) compared to the reference group, controlling for age, sex, education, occupation, industry, salary, workers’ choice of working hours and overtime payment. Workers working ≤52 h/w were adversely impacted by variable working hours as well. Conclusions Variable daily or weekly working hours were associated with poorer self-reported depressive and anxiety symptoms in Korea, among full-time and non-shift workers. Reform of the Korean Labor Standards Act warrants consideration.

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

“…According to previous studies, Korean permanently workers work longer than Western workers (41). It was found that such long working hours cause job stress and lead to depression in many cases (42), and they choose alcohol to relieve stress (41). In addition, persistent depression in men smokers increased HZD.…”

“…Persistent depression increased HZD in permanently hired men employees. According to previous studies, Korean permanently workers work longer than Western workers (41). It was found that such long working hours cause job stress and lead to depression in many cases (42), and they choose alcohol to relieve stress (41).…”

Work-Time Control and Exhaustion: Internal Work-to-Home Interference and Internal Home-to-Work Interference as Mediators

“…For example, WTC may be more closely related to worker self-exploitation resulting in overtime work and adverse effects on work–home interference and exhaustion. Evidence for this assumption is provided by a study by Lee et al [ 3 ] in which Korean workers with WTC had longer and more variable, i.e., irregular, weekly working hours and reported more depressive symptoms and anxiety than those without WTC. Likewise, several studies show that cultural and national aspects can influence both the job resources–strain relationship [ 52 ] and the work–home interface [ 53 , 54 ].…”

“…In our study, we assumed and found that WTC is a crucial job resource preventing employees from exhaustion. However, other studies indicate negative associations between a high level of WTC and employee health [ 3 , 55 ]. Usually, this is explained by the fact that employees use their high levels of WTC to work irregular hours, such as overtime, that impede recovery and thus detrimentally affect health.…”

“…Irregular working hours such as night shifts, a variable number of daily or weekly working hours, or on-call work are associated with several adverse mental health outcomes, including sleep problems, depressed mood, or anxiety [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. As irregular working hours are unavoidable in some sectors, for example, in health care, protection against the adverse effects is crucial.…”