Association between depression or sleep problems and working time mismatch among Korean workers

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Working time arrangements significantly impact employee well-being.
• Understanding the specific effects of working time mismatches on mental health is crucial for public health initiatives.
• South Korea faces unique challenges in its labor market regarding working hours and employee welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between working time mismatches and the prevalence of depression and sleep disorders among South Korean workers.
• To quantify the relationship between actual working hours and sleep problems.
• To determine how the degree of working time mismatch correlates with depression risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized raw data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS).
• Sample comprised 50,205 workers from various industries in South Korea.
• Statistical analyses were performed to assess the relationships between working time variables and health outcomes.

Main Results:

• A positive correlation was observed between actual working time and the risk of developing sleep problems.
• The risk of depression increased proportionally with the extent of working time mismatch.
• Both excessive and insufficient working hours relative to desired hours contributed to adverse mental health outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Addressing working time mismatches is essential for improving the mental health and welfare of the South Korean workforce.
• Policy interventions and cultural shifts promoting healthier working hour arrangements are recommended.
• Reducing working time mismatches can mitigate the risk of depression and sleep disorders among employees.