Is suicidal ideation linked to working hours and shift work in Korea?

Mar 11, 2015Journal of occupational health

Is thinking about suicide linked to work hours and shift schedules in Korea?

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Abstract

Suicidal ideation was significantly associated with moderately long working hours (51-60 hours) among 67,471 employed individuals in Korea.

Among male employees, moderate working hours (51-60 hours) correlated with a 30% increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts.
Self-employed males reported higher suicidal ideation with both moderately long (1.23 times) and very long working hours (1.31 times).
For female employees, moderate working hours were linked to a 31% higher risk of suicidal ideation.
Self-employed females experienced a 35% increased risk with moderately long working hours and a 33% increase with very long hours.
Shift work was a predictor of suicidal ideation in female employees, with an associated increase of 45%.

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OBJECTIVE: This study attempted to use the community health survey (CHS) to identify the effect of long working hours (long WHs) and night/shift work on suicidal ideation among the employed population of Korea.

METHODS: This study used data from 67,471 subjects who were administered the 2008 CHS which obtained information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors and working environment, using structured questionnaires and personal interviews. We adopted multiple logistic regression models for gender and employment stratification.

RESULTS: Among male employees, suicidal ideation was significantly associated with only moderately long WHs (51-60 hours), after controlling covariates (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.07 to 1.57). Self-employed/male employer populations had higher suicidal ideation when they had moderately long WHs (aOR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.01 to 1.50) and very long WHs (over 60 hours) (aOR, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.59). Among the female population, suicidal ideation was significantly association with moderately long WHs in the employee group (aOR, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.58) and moderately (aOR, 1.35; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.69) and very (aOR, 1.33; 95%CI, 1.07 to 1.65) long WHs in the self-employed/employer group. Shift work was a significant predictor only in the female population in the employee groups (aOR, 1.45; 95%CI, 1.23 to 1.70).

CONCLUSIONS: Long WHs and shift work were associated with suicidal ideation when taking into account gender and employment differences. The harmful effects of exceptionally long WHs in Korea, among other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, raise concerns about public and occupational health. To address the issue of long WHs, labor policies that reduce maximum working hours and facilitate job stability are needed.

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Is suicidal ideation linked to working hours and shift work in Korea?

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