Relationship between menstruation status and work conditions in Japan
Mariko Nishikitani1, Mutsuhiro Nakao2,3, Shinobu Tsurugano4
1Institute of Decision Science for a Sustainable Society, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-City, 812-8582 Japan.
Biopsychosocial Medicine
|October 14, 2017
Summary
Short work intervals negatively impact female workers' health, increasing anxiety and dissatisfaction. Menstrual cycles were also affected, though biological factors played a larger role than psychological ones.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Women's Health
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Menstrual problems significantly affect women's daily and work lives.
- Japanese government initiatives encourage female labor force participation, but health impacts are a barrier.
- Assessing the health status of working women, particularly menstrual health, is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between short work interval rest periods and menstrual/health status in Japanese female workers.
- To investigate the impact of work conditions on women's health during reproductive years.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 505 female university alumnae (aged 23-43) with stable jobs.
- Participants divided into groups based on work interval time (benchmark: 11 hours).
- Health outcomes analyzed: menstrual cycle, dysmenorrhea, anxiety, and health satisfaction using logistic regression.
Main Results:
- Short work intervals (<11 hours) correlated with higher anxiety and health dissatisfaction.
- Abnormal menstrual cycles were more frequent in the short interval group, but this disappeared after adjusting for biological factors.
- Dysmenorrhea symptoms showed no significant association with short work intervals.
Conclusions:
- A short work interval (<11 hours) is linked to poorer subjective health and menstrual status in female workers.
- Menstrual health is more influenced by biological factors than psychosocial ones.
- Extended work hours and short intervals may increase anxiety, dissatisfaction, and disrupt menstrual cycles.
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