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Long working hours and subjective fatigue symptoms
1Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, KOSHA, Inchon, S.Korea.
Industrial Health
|August 14, 2001
Summary
Long working hours are linked to increased subjective fatigue complaints. A fatigue questionnaire can help detect cumulative fatigue from job stress.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Industrial Psychology
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Overtime work is presumed to correlate with chronic fatigue and reduced cardiovascular function.
- Understanding the link between extended work hours and fatigue is crucial for employee well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the positive relationship between long working hours and subjective fatigue complaints.
- To assess the utility of subjective fatigue complaints as an early detection tool for chronic job stress.
Main Methods:
- A field survey was conducted with 238 male employees in South Korean electronics R&D departments.
- Participants completed self-report questionnaires on working hours, health, and fatigue.
- Subjects were categorized into less longer (LLWH), longer (LWH), and more longer (MLWH) working hour groups (≥60 and ≥70 hours/week).
- Age-adjusted mean fatigue complaint scores were compared across groups.
Main Results:
- The rate of subjective fatigue complaints before work was significantly higher in the longer (LWH) and more longer (MLWH) working hour groups compared to the less longer (LLWH) group.
- This suggests a dose-response relationship between working hours and fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Subjective fatigue complaints show a significant positive association with long working hours.
- A questionnaire on subjective fatigue complaints serves as an effective screening tool for early identification of cumulative fatigue stemming from chronic job stress.