Association between Working Hours and Self-Rated Health

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Self-rated health (SRH) is a key indicator of overall health status.
• Working hours are a significant factor influencing health outcomes.
• Understanding disparities in SRH based on working conditions is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between working hours and self-rated health (SRH).
• To examine how sex, socioeconomic status, and working conditions modify this association.
• To identify specific risk groups for poor SRH based on working hour patterns.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 25,144 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) (2010-2018).
• Employed multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the risks of poor SRH.
• Stratified analyses were performed based on sex, education level, occupation type, and employment status.

Main Results:

• Both short and long working hours were associated with poor SRH.
• Men working short hours and women working long hours faced increased risks.
• Educational attainment and job type influenced the risk: low education with short hours, high education with long hours, and simple laborers with short hours showed higher risks.

Conclusions:

• The relationship between working hours and SRH is complex and moderated by individual and work-related factors.
• Workers with short hours and low education, and those with long hours and high education, are particularly vulnerable.
• Working conditions significantly mediate the impact of working hours on self-rated health, necessitating tailored occupational health strategies.