Long working hours and health

TLDR

The study investigates how long working hours are linked to depression and changes in weight, smoking, drinking, and exercise among adults. Using a two‑year longitudinal analysis of 3,830 Canadian workers from the National Population Health Survey, the authors applied multivariate models controlling for socioeconomic and work‑related factors. Long hours increased depression risk in women, caused weight gain in men, raised smoking in both sexes, and raised drinking in women, with no effect on physical activity.

Abstract

This article examines associations between long working hours, depression and changes in selected health behaviours. Based on an analysis of people followed over a two-year period, the relationship between changes in work hours and changes in health behaviours is explored.The data are from the household longitudinal component of the 1994/95 and 1996/97 cycles of the National Population Health Survey, conducted by Statistics Canada. Results are based on 3,830 adult workers aged 25 to 54 (2,181 men and 1,649 women) who worked 35 hours or more per week throughout the year before their 1994/95 interview.Multivariate analyses were used to estimate associations between working hours and depression, and changes in weight, smoking, drinking and exercise, while controlling for potential socioeconomic and work-related confounders such as education, income, occupation, shift work and self-employment.Women who worked long hours had increased odds of subsequently experiencing depression. Moving from standard to long hours was associated with unhealthy weight gain for men, with an increase in smoking for both men and women, and with an increase in drinking for women. No associations were detected for physical activity.