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A Longitudinal Analysis of Long Working Hours and the Onset of Psychological Distress
Emmanuel Ezekekwu1, Christopher Johnson, Seyed Karimi
1From the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (E.E., S.K., D.L., D.A.); and Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia (C.J.).
Objectives:
There is a paucity of longitudinal studies examining the relationship between working hours and the development of psychological distress (PD) among US workers. This study utilized a longitudinal approach to examine this relationship.
Methods:
The 2010-2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data was utilized. PD was analyzed among full-time US employees without PD at baseline using a fixed effect approach.
Results:
The sample comprised 27,548 full-time workers. Individuals working 61 hours or more weekly had the highest risk of PD onset, at 9.9% (95% CI = 1.9%-17.8%, P < 0.05), compared to those working 30 to 35 hours weekly. Interestingly, an increased risk of PD onset was found among individuals working 36 to 40 hr/wk at 6.6% (CI = 1.5%-11.6%%, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Long working hours were associated with the increased development of PD.
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