Effects of long workhours on life-style, stress and quality of life among intermediate Japanese managers

Association between job insecurity and health-related quality of life: The moderator effect of social support in the workplace

Background: Employee job insecurity negatively affects health outcomes, with limited research on the moderating role of workplace social support. Objective: This study examines the relationship between job insecurity and health-related quality of life among medical representatives, exploring the moderating effect of social support at work. Method: Cross-sectional data from 391 Turkish medical representatives during the pandemic were analyzed using correlation, logistic regression, and moderation analysis with SPSS for Windows and Hayes' Process Macro. Results: 73.4% of the participants were male, with a mean age of 38.3 ± 6.7 years. According to multiple logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender, quantitative and qualitative job insecurity negatively [OR = 1.02 (95% CI = 1.00-1.03)] and social support positively [OR = 0.96 (95% CI = 0.95-0.98)] affected health-related quality of life. There was a moderately significant correlation between health-related quality of life and quantitative job insecurity, qualitatively job insecurity and social support in the workplace (r = -0.430, r = -0.477, r = 0.494), respectively. The moderating effect analysis has revealed that receiving social support in the workplace alleviates and reduces the negative impact of job insecurity on the health-related quality of life of employees. Social support in the workplace received by employees mitigates and reduces the negative impact of job insecurity on their health-related quality of life. Conclusion: Social support in the workplace plays an important role in buffering the negative consequences of job insecurity. According to this research, it is important to improve social support in the workplace to prevent negative health-related quality of life outcomes among medical representatives experiencing job insecurity.

Overtime work and Chinese workers' physical and mental health: The mediating role of social support and work value awareness

BACKGROUND

China was once called the world's factory. Chinese workers had long weekly working hours. However, the empirical results of the relationship between overtime work and workers' health are mixed and remain inconclusive.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate how overtime work influenced workers' physical and mental health and the role of lifestyles, social support, and work value awareness.

METHODS

Data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 (N = 14,205) was used. The instrumental variable approach was employed to overcome the endogeneity problem between overtime work and workers' health. The bootstrapping method was conducted to elicit the role of lifestyles, social support, and work value awareness.

RESULTS

The results indicated that overtime work significantly and negatively influenced Chinese workers' physical and mental health. The results of the bootstrapping suggested that workers' social support and work value awareness partially mediated the relationship between overtime work and their physical and mental health. However, the mediating role of lifestyles was insignificant.

CONCLUSION

Through using big data with national representativeness, this study suggests that overtime work negatively influences Chinese workers' physical and mental health. Our findings provide policy implications for improving workers' health rights and well-being in emerging economies.

Circadian Deregulation: Back Facing the Sun Toward Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Development

Earth's rotation around its axis has pressured its inhabitants to adapt to 24 h cycles of day and night. Humans adapted their own circadian rhythms to the Earth's rhythms with a light-aligned awake-sleep cycle. As a consequence, metabolism undergoes drastic changes throughout the circadian cycle and needs plasticity to cope with opposing conditions in the day (when there is an increase in energy demands and food availability), and during the night (when prolonged fasting couples with cyclic changes in the energy demands across the sleep stages). In the last century, human behavior changed dramatically with a disregard for the natural circadian cycles. This misalignment in sleep and eating schedules strongly modulates the metabolism and energy homeostasis, favoring the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This review summarizes the effects of circadian disruption, with a particular focus on the feeding and sleep cycles in the development of MASLD and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Self- and Other-Orientation in High Rank: A Cultural Psychological Approach to Social Hierarchy

PUBLIC ABSTRACT

Social hierarchy is one fundamental aspect of human life, structuring interactions in families, teams, and entire societies. In this review, we put forward a new theory about how social hierarchy is shaped by the wider societal contexts (i.e., cultures). Comparing East Asian and Western cultural contexts, we show how culture comprises societal beliefs about who can raise to high rank (e.g., become a leader), shapes interactions between high- and low-ranking individuals (e.g., in a team), and influences human thought and behavior in social hierarchies. Overall, we find cultural similarities, in that high-ranking individuals are agentic and self-oriented in both cultural contexts. But we also find important cross-cultural differences. In East Asian cultural contexts, high-ranking individuals are also other oriented; they are also concerned about the people around them and their relationships. We close with a call to action, suggesting studying social hierarchies in more diverse cultural contexts.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Perceived Stress, Well-Being and Their Relations with Work-Related Behaviours among Hong Kong School Leaders during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The health and well-being of school leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic have been largely neglected compared to the health and well-being of students and teachers. This study assessed the magnitude of perceived stress and well-being and the associated factors, including number of working hours, work-related sense of coherence (work-SoC), perceived stress, self-endangering work behaviour, secondary burnout symptoms, and satisfaction with work, among school leaders in Hong Kong, China during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 259 eligible school leaders in Hong Kong from April 2021 to February 2022. Pearson's correlation analyses, multilinear regression models, and independent-samples Student's t-tests were performed. The findings revealed that school leaders' perceived stress was negatively correlated with their well-being (r = -0.544, p < 0.01) and work-related SoC (r = -0.327, p < 0.01) but positively correlated with their extensification of work (r = 0.473, p < 0.01), exhaustion related to work situations (r = 0.559, p < 0.01), and psychosomatic complaints (r = 0.439, p < 0.01). In a model that adjusted for gender and age, student leaders with higher subjective well-being scores had a lower level of perceived stress (B = -0.031; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.59, -0.02; p = 0.034), whereas leaders in schools with a larger student population had a higher level of perceived stress (B = 0.002; 95% CI, 0.000, 0.003; p = 0.030). School leaders with a higher likelihood of performing the self-endangering work behaviour of 'intensification of work' had higher perceived stress levels (B = 1.497; 95% CI, 0.717, 2.278; p < 0.001). School leaders with a higher work-related SoC (B = 4.20; 95% CI, 1.290, 7.106; p = 0.005) had a higher level of well-being. School leaders with higher levels of perceived stress (B = -0.734; 95% CI, -1.423, -0.044; p = 0.037), a higher likelihood of performing the self-endangering work behaviour of 'extensification of work' (B = -4.846; 95% CI, -8.543, -1.149; p = 0.010), and a higher score for exhaustion related to work (B = -10.449; 95% CI, -13.864, -7.033; p = 0.000) showed lower levels of well-being. The finding of a high incidence of stress among school leadership justifies the need for more societal attention to the well-being of school leaders in Hong Kong. It is important that policies and initiatives are designed to enhance the well-being of school leaders and that they are supported in leading the management of schools and coping with stress in school settings.

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Saudi Adults' Behavior Regarding Food Literacy and Food Consumption

Background

The coronavirus pandemic has forced worldwide closures, especially of restaurants closed, which partly contributed to people all over the world changing the way they choose and prepare foods.

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare changes in behavioral food literacy (planning, selecting, and preparing food) and food consumption before and during the COVID-19 crisis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Design

This was a cross-sectional study, with data from an online survey made in UAntwerpen Qualtrics Accounts and collected from April-June 2020. The study was part of the International Corona Cooking Survey.

Results

There were 2788 respondents (83%, n = 2323 females) who reported that the COVID-19 home lockdown had positively affected all their behavioral food literacy components (all p<0.05) except feeling confident about cooking a variety of healthy meals in which the difference was not significant (p>0.05); however, its impact on their food consumption was varied. There was a noticeable positive increase in fruit intake (Z= -3.330, p=0.001) and a noticeable positive decrease in processed meat (Z= -11.375, p<0.001) and sweetened drinks consumption (Z= -2.403, p<0.05). There were simultaneously noticeable adverse effects represented in the reduction in the consumption of the vegetable group (Z= -3.447, p=0.001) and an increase in sweets consumption (Z= -2.268, p<0.05). However, the overall impacts of these changes as measured by the Hedges’ g measure indicated a small effect (Hedges’ g = 0.04, 95% CI (-0.07, -0.16)).

Discussion and conclusions

Even though the pandemic may have created a sense of responsibility for one's health and increased people's nutritional awareness, the Saudi population may be still a long way from having healthy eating habits. Public health campaigns need to increase the population's level of nutritional awareness, educate them about the meaning of healthy eating, and how they can achieve that by advocating the national dietary guidelines and providing reliable and accurate information by authorized official bodies.

On-Call Duties: The Perceived Impact on Veterinarians' Job Satisfaction, Well-Being and Personal Relationships

Objective: To assess the impact of on-call duties on veterinarians' job satisfaction, well-being and personal relationships.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Sample: The sample was obtained from Veterinary Information Network (VIN) members in private practice within the United States.

Procedures: A link to an anonymous online survey was distributed via an email invitation to all Veterinary Information Network (VIN) members with access from August 15, 2017 to October 21, 2017.

Results: A total of 1,945 responses were recorded. The majority of those who reported having on-call duties were female associates. Composite scales were created to assess the impact of on-call shifts on job satisfaction and well-being. Multiple linear regression was conducted and found that gender (p = 0.0311), associate status (p < 0.0001), and age (p = 0.0293) were all significantly associated with on-call related job satisfaction. Additionally, multiple linear regression found that gender (p = 0.0039), associate status (p < 0.0057), and age (p < 0.0001) were all significantly associated with on-call related well-being. On-call shifts were reported by many to have a negative impact on job satisfaction and well-being; this was especially pronounced for female associates. Females had on-call related job satisfaction scores that were, on average, 1.27 points lower than that of males (lower scores equates to lower job satisfaction). Further, females' average on-call related well-being scores were 1.15 points higher than that of males (lower scores equates to higher well-being).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study suggests that on-call shifts have a negative impact on veterinarian job satisfaction, well-being and personal relationships. The negative impact on job satisfaction and well-being is greatest for female associates. Veterinary medicine has been identified as a stressful occupation that can lead to psychological distress. It is therefore important to critically assess current practices that appear to increase stress and reduce emotional well-being. For this reason, it is suggested that veterinary hospitals explore alternative options to traditional on-call shifts.

Culture and Health: Recent Developments and Future Directions 1

Evidence of cultural differences in relationships and emotions has accumulated over the past few decades. As findings on cultural differences in psychological processes have accumulated, there has been growing interest in investigating whether they have implications for other phenomena such as health. Using scientific advances from the MIDUS and MIDJA studies, both publicly available, we examine links between culture and health. We first briefly review the accumulated evidence on cultural influences on health correlates of psychosocial factors. We then feature two recent developments - a more micro-level perspective on biological factors that may be involved in the culture and health linkage, and a more macro-level view of socioeconomic inequality, which also matters for health. Both perspectives inform the pathways through which health effects occur. Finally, we conclude our review by highlighting the changing historical contexts surrounding these cross-cultural investigations. Specifically, we draw attention to widening of economic inequality across cultures and the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic. These happenings bring notable implications for future research on health across cultural contexts.

Long Working Hours and Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII

BACKGROUND

The global incidence of NAFLD is rising sharply due to various risk factors. As previous studies reported adverse health impact of long working hours on metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, it is plausible that NAFLD is also associated with working excessive hours. However, data regarding this issue is limited.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study based on Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII, 5,661 working adults without previous liver disease or heavy alcohol drinking habits were included. The subjects were categorized into three groups according to working hours: 36-42, 43-52, and 53-83 hours/week. NAFLD was defined using the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), which is a validated prediction model for determining NAFLD.

RESULTS

The prevalence of NAFLD (HSI ≥36) increased with longer working hours: 23.0%, 25.6%, and 30.6% in the 36-42, 43-52, and 53-83 hours/week group, respectively (p <0.001). Subjects who worked 53-83 hours/week had higher odds for NAFLD than those who worked the standard 36-42 hours/week (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.50, p = 0.033) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, exercise, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol. This association was consistent across subgroups according to working schedule (daytime vs. shift workers) or occupation type (office vs. manual workers). In particular, the relationship between long working hours and NAFLD was pronounced in workers aged <60 years and in female workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Long working hours was significantly associated with NAFLD. Further prospective studies are required to validate this finding with causal relationship.

Obesity Fact Sheet in Korea, 2019: Prevalence of Obesity and Abdominal Obesity from 2009 to 2018 and Social Factors

Background

The prevalence of obesity has rapidly increased in countries across the world in recent decades. The 2019 Obesity Fact Sheet released by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity addressed the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity during the period of 2009 to 2018 and obesity-related social factors.

Methods

Data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service health checkup database between 2009 and 2018 and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was calculated after standardizing for age and sex based on the 2010 population and housing census.

Results

From 2009 to 2018, the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity increased to 35.7% and 23.8%, respectively, in 2018. Upward trends in the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was observed among both sexes and nearly all age groups. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was higher among individuals with lower education and household income levels. Among occupations, managers exhibited the highest prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity. Further, the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity became higher among individuals working longer hours and split and night shift workers.

Conclusion

The 2019 Obesity Fact Sheet provides information on changes in obesity dynamics during the past decade and obesity-related social factors in the Korean adult population. This report might constitute a cornerstone by which to establish targets for future interventions for reversing the rise in the prevalence of obesity and reducing the burden of obesity in Korea.

The Vicious Cycle of Work Life: Work Effort Versus Career Development Effort

Although much progress has been made toward establishing gender equality in organizations, women remain underrepresented in upper management positions. This study examines why women might be less likely than men to be promoted, even in organizations with high gender equality climates. Using a large sample of managers in South Korea, we hypothesized and found that women and men used different strategies regarding how to direct their effort to achieve promotions. Women with high self-efficacy under high gender equality climate focused on increasing work effort, whereas men in similar situations focused on increasing career development effort. We also found that only career development effort was positively related to promotion, whereas work effort was positively related to work stress and turnover intentions, and negatively associated with job satisfaction. Our results suggest that different effort strategies lead women to become caught in a vicious cycle of working hard and earning only unpleasant consequences.

The relationship between quality of life and social support among nurses: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This research was conducted with the aim of evaluating the quality of life (QoL) and its relationship with social support of nurses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed on 241 nurses working at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. The instruments used in this study were the Persian SF-36 tool, McCain Marquin Social Interaction Questionnaire, and information on individual and job characteristics. The sampling method was cluster sampling with probability proportional to population size. The information was analyzed using SPSS version 18 and with proportional statistics.

RESULTS

Only 31.6% (67) of the nurses had high levels of social support. The average social support was 47/65 ± 93/6. The highest mean score of QoL 67.75 ± 25.023 was related to physical activity and the lowest score mean were related to dimensions of bodily pain (54.59 ±22.727) and role limitations because of physical health problems (59.60 ± 40.261). In the linear regression model with the Enter method, the adjustment of the effects of the variables of the three dimensions of general health, mental health and happiness, and QoL was associated with social support.

CONCLUSION

The majority of nurses have moderate social support and poor QoL for nurses. Therefore, considering the effects of nurse support, it is recommended to perform supportive interventions and plan for more well-being of nurses.

Long Hours' Effects on Work-Life Balance and Satisfaction

Purpose

In this study, we examined whether the associations between working hours, job satisfaction, and work-life balance are mediated by occupational stress. In addition, we tested whether perceived time control helps moderate the effects of working hours and occupational stress.

Methodology

Questionnaires were administered to 369 respondents working in the high-tech and banking industries. Analyses were then conducted on the data.

Findings

The analysis revealed significant correlations between long working hours and both occupational stress and work-life balance, as well as between occupational stress and both work-life balance and job satisfaction. In addition, the relationship between working hours and occupational stress exhibited a significantly positive interaction with perceived time control.

Value

The results indicate the importance of giving workers greater control over working hours. We therefore recommend that labor laws should be revised as necessary to prevent excessive working hours and enhance work-time flexibility.

The Effect of Long Working Hours and Overtime on Occupational Health: A Meta-Analysis of Evidence from 1998 to 2018

There has been no subsequent meta-analysis examining the effects of long working hours on health or occupational health since 1997. Therefore, this paper aims to conduct a meta-analysis covering studies after 1997 for a comparison. A total of 243 published records were extracted from electronic databases. The effects were measured by five conditions, namely, physiological health (PH), mental health (MH), health behaviours (HB), related health (RH), and nonspecified health (NH). The overall odds ratio between long working hours and occupational health was 1.245 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.195-1.298). The condition of related health constituted the highest odds ratio value (1.465, 95% CI: 1.332-1.611). The potential moderators were study method, cut-point for long weekly working hours, and country of origin. Long working hours were shown to adversely affect the occupational health of workers. The management on safeguarding the occupational health of workers working long hours should be reinforced.

Hours of work and health in Japan

PURPOSE

This article aimed to examine the causal relationships of hours of work with health behaviors and health outcomes.

METHOD

The data were derived from Japan Household Panel Survey/Keio Household Panel Survey. In total, data from 2677 men and 2170 women were analyzed to show the effects of hours of work on body mass index, smoking, and sleeping hours. To deal with the potential endogeneity of decisions about hours of work, the instrumental variable approach was used.

RESULTS

Hours of work had a negative impact on hours of sleep among men (coefficient [coef.], -0.371; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.519 to -0.223). Longer hours of work also increased the probability of men being obese (coef., 1.108; 95% CI, 0.234-1.981) and the number of cigarettes they smoked each day (coef., 1.007; 95% CI, 0.037-1.978). For women, longer hours of work increased the probability of being obese (coef., 0.029; 95% CI, 0.009-0.050) and decreased the hours of sleep (coef., -0.416; 95% CI, -0.618 to -0.214).

CONCLUSIONS

This article suggests that the health consequences of long hours of work include health behaviors and health outcomes that can lead to higher risks of morbidity and mortality.

The Status of Occupational Stress and Its Influence the Quality of Life of Copper-Nickel Miners in Xinjiang, China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of occupational stress and its influence on the quality of life of copper-nickel miners, in order to provide a theoretical basis for alleviating occupational stress to improve their quality of life. Stratified cluster sampling and a self-administered questionnaire survey were used. The Effort⁻Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire and the SF-36 (36-Item Short Form) health survey scale were administered to all 2000 miners registered with a copper-nickel mining human resources department and who had been on duty for more than one year. In total, 1857 valid questionnaires were collected, with a response rate of 92.85%. The percentage of the copper-nickel miners suffering from occupational stress was 42.65%. A statistically significant difference was observed in relation to the prevalence of occupational stress among miners of different genders, ages, education levels, and operating units. The occupational stress detection rate was higher for males than females. Miners aged between 30 and 34 years exhibited the highest level of occupational stress compared to other age groups. Those with a junior college education exhibited the highest rate of occupational stress compared to those with other levels of education. Those working in the smelting unit exhibited the highest rate of occupational stress compared to those working in other operational units. Those classified as experiencing stress (an ERI score >1) had lower quality of life scores than miners classified as not experiencing stress (an ERI score ≤1). The results show that level of education, monthly income, and degree of occupational stress affect quality of life among copper-nickel miners. It was found that older age, lower income, higher education level, and higher degree of occupational stress were factors related to poorer quality of life. Copper-nickel miners have high levels of occupational stress, and occupational stress is a risk factor that can diminish quality of life.

Impact of near work on perceived stress according to working hours: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013-2015)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among working hours, near work time, and perceived stress. In total, data of 3,776 workers from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI were examined. The workers’ working hours per week, daily near work time, and complaints of perceived stress were analyzed in conjunction with other sociodemographic and occupation-related variables. Multivariate logistic analysis found that workers with 3 and ≥4 hours of near work were more likely to report high perceived stress than were the reference group who had <1 hour per day of near work, with odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of 1.34 (1.01–1.78) and 1.94 (1.53–2.46), respectively. Additionally, those working 50 and more hours a week were more likely to report high perceived stress with ORs of 1.51 (1.19–1.90) and 1.88 (1.42–2.48), respectively. When stratified by working hours, workers with daily near work time of ≥4 hours were more likely to report high perceived stress with ORs of 2.21 (1.45–3.37), 2.27 (1.30–3.97), and 3.47 (1.80–6.69), among the workers with 40–49, 50–59, and ≥60 weekly working hours, respectively. Workers with greater near work time are at risk for high perceived stress. Moreover, this risk was found to be higher among workers with longer working hours. Therefore, work cycle modification and reductions in near work time are necessary to prevent stress-related health outcomes.

Occupational Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Profile in the Adult Population of the Southern Cone of Latin America: Results From the CESCAS I Study

OBJECTIVE

We explore the association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and cardiovascular risk factors in four cities of the Southern Cone.

METHODS

Robust multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the associations.

RESULTS

The working population was constituted by 1868 men and 1672 women. Men performing high levels of OPA showed higher levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL; mean adj. diff. = 2.24 mg/dL; P = 0.004), lower levels of triglycerides (-24.59 mg/dL; P = 0.006), and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL ratio values (-0.21; P = 0.015) than reference. Women in the highest category of OPA had higher levels of HDL (2.85 mg/dL; P = 0.006), lower TC/HDL (0.27; P = 0.001), and low-density lipoprotein/HDL ratios (-0.18; P = 0.003) than sedentary activities.

CONCLUSION

Individuals who performed high levels of OPA did not exhibit a worse cardiovascular risk profile and an improvement on selected biomarkers was observed when compared with those performing sedentary activities.

Nonlinear associations between working hours and overwork-related cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVD)

Long working hours are recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases (CCVD). We investigated the relationship between working hours and different CCVD severity outcomes—death, disability, and illness—across industries in Taiwan from 2006 to 2016. We applied a generalized additive mixed model to estimate the association between working hours and the rate of each severity outcome, adjusted for salary, unemployment rate, time, and a random intercept. Industry-average working hours were significantly associated with each outcome level of overwork-related CCVD, especially when monthly working hours increased from 169 (relative risk [RR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.002–2.12) to 187 (RR = 5.73, 95% CI 3.61–9.08). Although RR trends declined after monthly working hours exceeded 187, excess risks remained statistically significant. Each 1-hour increase in working hours had a stronger effect on the RR increase in death and disability than on illness. Variations in CCVD risks existed across industries, with the highest risk in transportation and information. Reducing working hours is essential to preventing overwork-related CCVD, especially the more severe outcomes. We recommend further research to address possible underreporting of less severe cases, and to explore actions to narrow the gaps in risk across industries.

Culture and social class

A large body of research in Western cultures has demonstrated the psychological and health effects of social class. This review outlines a cultural psychological approach to social stratification by comparing psychological and health manifestations of social class across Western and East Asian cultures. These comparisons suggest that cultural meaning systems shape how people make meaning and respond to material/structural conditions associated with social class, thereby leading to culturally divergent manifestations of social class. Specifically, unlike their counterparts in Western cultures, individuals of high social class in East Asian cultures tend to show high conformity and other-orientated psychological attributes. In addition, cultures differ in how social class impacts health (i.e. on which bases, through which pathways, and to what extent).

The effect of long working hours on 10-year risk of coronary heart disease and stroke in the Korean population: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2007 to 2013

BACKGROUND

Recently, the emergence of long working hours and the associated conditions such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke have gained attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between long working hours and the 10-year-risk of CHD and stroke, estimated by Jee's health risk-appraisal model for ischemic heart disease.

METHODS

We analyzed data from Koreans who randomly enrolled in Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2012 and finally included 13,799 participants. The participants were classified as per their working hours: 0-30 h/week, 31-39 h/week, 40 h/week, 41-50 h/week, 51-60 h/week, 61-70 h/week, 71-80 h/week, and >80 h/week. The risks for CHD and stroke were determined using Jee's health risk-appraisal model. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the association between working hours and 10-year risk for CHD.

RESULTS

The 10-year risks for CHD and stroke were significantly and positively associated with working hours in both men and women. Furthermore, higher risks for CHD and stroke were associated with longer working hours in women.

CONCLUSION

Long working hours are significantly associated with the risks of CHD and stroke, estimated by Jee's health risk-appraisal model. This study suggests the need for proper management of working hours to reduce CHD risk and stroke risk in the Korean population.

Flying Into Depression

A growing body of evidence suggests long work hours adversely affect mental health across a variety of domains. Mental health issues have been found to negatively affect work performance. This finding was highlighted in the aviation industry by the 2015 Germanwings incident in which 150 people died. Further investigation into work hours and their associated factors (e.g., demographic characteristics and experiences of sleep and fatigue in the cockpit) contributing to mental health issues among pilots is warranted. A cross-sectional survey investigating attitudes and experiences of fatigue was developed and distributed to commercial airline pilots. Results found pilots who reported typically spending longer hours on duty per week were twice as likely to report feeling depressed or anxious. Pilots' experiences of job-related sleep disturbance and fatigue may explain why pilots who typically spend long hours on duty each week are more likely to report feeling depressed or anxious.

Long working hours and overweight and obesity in working adults

Background

Previous studies have identified a link between gender and the various risk factors associated with obesity. We examined obesity risk factors in working adults to identify the effects of differences in body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat (PBF) between women and men.

Methods

A total of 1,120 adults agreed to participate in the study. Data from 711 participants, including 411 women and 300 men, were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of risk factors on obesity and being overweight. In addition, the least-squares (LS) means of both BMI and PBF were estimated by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in a generalized linear model. 

Results

Increases in BMI and PBF were significantly related to an age > 50 years and long working hours in women after compensating for confounding factors. Using the PBF criterion, the odds ratio (OR) of being overweight or obese in women > 50 years of age who worked for > 9 h a day was 3.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–11.00). For BMI, women who were > 50 years of age and worked for > 9 h a day were 3.82 times (95% CI, 1.31–11.14) more likely to be overweight or obese than those who were < 50 years of age and worked for < 9 h a day.

Conclusion

Obesity in working adults was associated with > 50 years of age and long working hours in women. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of this relationship and its potential implications for the prevention and management of excess weight and obesity.

Reduction of Working Time: Does It Lead to a Healthy Lifestyle?

I examine whether working hours have a causal effect on the health behaviors of workers. In assessing the causal relationship, I estimate fixed-effects instrumental variable models by using exogenous variation in adopting a reduced workweek in South Korea as an instrument for work hours. The estimation results reveal that shortening work hours induces individuals to exercise regularly and decreases the likelihood of smoking, with more pronounced effects for heavy smokers. While a work-hour reduction substantially increases the probability of drinking participation, it does not significantly affect the likelihood of frequent or daily drinking habits. In addition, the effect of a work-hour reduction on regular exercise is salient among women and older groups, and the effect on smoking behaviors is more pronounced among men and middle-aged groups. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Relationship between, Lifestyle, Mold and Sick Building Syndromes in Newly Built Dwellings in Japan

To investigate the relationships among Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms, we conducted a questionnaire and an indoor environment mold survey in a sample of newly built dwellings in Japan. The questionnaire included questions on SBS symptoms and lifestyle and a mold survey conducted in the living room of each dwelling. The odds ratios (OR) for insufficient sleep were 3.58 in males and 2.57 (weighted for SBS symptoms; W) in females, 0.38 (W) for alcohol consumption in males, and 0.10 (W) for working hours in females. The ORs for total molds were 2.90 and 2.90 (W): 2.25 (W) for Cladosporium cladosporioides, 3.60 and 7.69 (W) for Penicillium sp. in females, and 4.08 and 8.82 (W) for Alternaria alternata in males. These results suggest that the presence of Penicillium sp. in females and Alternaria alternata in males increases the risk of SBS, whereas sufficient sleep, moderate alcohol consumption for males, and fewer working hours for females might alleviate SBS symptoms.

Occupational status and job stress in relation to cardiovascular stress reactivity in Japanese workers

This study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational status and job stress factors on cardiovascular stress reactivity in Japanese workers. In this baseline assessment between 2001 and 2009 in Osaka, Japan, we examined 928 healthy Japanese employees (330 men, 598 women) from two occupational statuses: managers/professionals and general workers. A brief job stress questionnaire was used to evaluate job stress levels. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate, heart rate variability (high-frequency [HF], low-frequency [LF], LF/HF], and peripheral blood flow were measured at rest and during two stressful tasks. Changes in stress reactivity were calculated as the difference between the measured variables during the tasks and the rest period. Men showed inverse associations between quantitative job overload and DBP, heart rate, and LF/HF, between physical demands and blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and between a poor physical environment and HF. Men also had positive associations between qualitative job overload and heart rate, and between physical demands and peripheral blood flow (all p < 0.05). Women showed inverse associations between qualitative job overload and SBP, and showed positive associations between qualitative job overload and peripheral blood flow, and between a poor physical environment and SBP (all p < 0.05). When stratified by occupational status, significant associations between job stress and changes in stress reactivity were observed in male managers/professionals and female general workers (p < 0.05). Job stress levels are associated with changes in cardiovascular stress reactivity in men and women. Occupational status may modify these associations.

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Job stressors are associated with changes in stress reactivity in men and women.

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Job stressors associated with stress reactivity in male managers/professionals.

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Job stressors associated with stress reactivity in female general workers.

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Occupational status and gender differences should be considered.

Dose-Response Relation Between Work Hours and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Findings From the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the presence of a dose-response relationship between work hours and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a representative sample of U.S. workers.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of 1926 individuals from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1986 to 2011) employed for at least 10 years. Restricted cubic spline regression was used to estimate the dose-response relationship of work hours with CVD.

RESULTS

A dose-response relationship was observed in which an average workweek of 46 hours or more for at least 10 years was associated with an increased risk of CVD. Compared with working 45 hours per week, working an additional 10 hours per week or more for at least 10 years increased CVD risk by at least 16%.

CONCLUSION

Working more than 45 work hours per week for at least 10 years may be an independent risk factor for CVD.

Work patterns, sleeping hours and excess weight in commercial drivers

BACKGROUND

Work and sleep patterns for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers often include long working hours, shift work and diminished sleep duration and quality, which have been linked to overweight, obesity and other problems.

AIMS

To explore possible connections between work, sleep and obesity among CMV drivers.

METHODS

Survey and anthropometric data were collected from male long-haul CMV drivers in central North Carolina, USA, over a period of 6 months. Drivers' body mass index (BMI) was used as a measure of total body obesity and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) as a measure of central adiposity.

RESULTS

Among the 260 study subjects, mean BMI was 33.1 (64% were obese or morbidly obese) and mean SAD was 32.3cm, classifying 89% of drivers as being at high or very high cardiometabolic risk. About 83% of drivers worked an irregular daily schedule, 64% worked irregular total daily hours, 32% worked irregular days of the week and 46% reported getting <7h of sleep during work nights. Significant predictors of BMI included the number of hours worked daily (P < 0.05) and the age (P < 0.01) of the driver, while age was also a significant predictor for SAD (P < 0.05). Significant predictors of sleep quality included the extent of shift work (P < 0.05) and sleep duration (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Work and sleep configurations appear to affect the weight status of CMV drivers. Shift work and sleep duration are both associated with the weight status of CMV drivers, and both appear to function as indicators of their sleep quality.

Changes in Doctors' Working Hours: A Longitudinal Analysis

The study examined changes in doctors' working hours and satisfaction with working hours over five time points and explored the influence of personal characteristics on these outcomes. Latent growth curve modeling was applied to Medicine in Australia: Balancing Employment and Life data, collected from 2008 to 2012. Findings showed that working hours significantly declined over time, with a greater decrease among males, older doctors, and doctors with fewer children. Satisfaction increased faster over time among specialists, doctors with poorer health, those whose partners did not work full-time, and those with older children. The more hours the doctors worked initially, the lower satisfaction reported, and the greater the increase in satisfaction. Findings are consistent with a culture change in the medical profession, whereby long working hours are no longer seen as synonymous with professionalism. This is important to take into account in projecting future workforce supply.

Is suicidal ideation linked to working hours and shift work in Korea?

OBJECTIVE

This study attempted to use the community health survey (CHS) to identify the effect of long working hours (long WHs) and night/shift work on suicidal ideation among the employed population of Korea.

METHODS

This study used data from 67,471 subjects who were administered the 2008 CHS which obtained information regarding sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors and working environment, using structured questionnaires and personal interviews. We adopted multiple logistic regression models for gender and employment stratification.

RESULTS

Among male employees, suicidal ideation was significantly associated with only moderately long WHs (51-60 hours), after controlling covariates (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.07 to 1.57). Self-employed/male employer populations had higher suicidal ideation when they had moderately long WHs (aOR, 1.23; 95%CI, 1.01 to 1.50) and very long WHs (over 60 hours) (aOR, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.59). Among the female population, suicidal ideation was significantly association with moderately long WHs in the employee group (aOR, 1.31; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.58) and moderately (aOR, 1.35; 95%CI, 1.08 to 1.69) and very (aOR, 1.33; 95%CI, 1.07 to 1.65) long WHs in the self-employed/employer group. Shift work was a significant predictor only in the female population in the employee groups (aOR, 1.45; 95%CI, 1.23 to 1.70).

CONCLUSIONS

Long WHs and shift work were associated with suicidal ideation when taking into account gender and employment differences. The harmful effects of exceptionally long WHs in Korea, among other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, raise concerns about public and occupational health. To address the issue of long WHs, labor policies that reduce maximum working hours and facilitate job stability are needed.

Overwork and cerebrocardiovascular disease in Korean adult workers

OBJECTIVES

Long work hours and overwork may increase the cardiovascular load of workers. But long work hours and overwork are not the same. Cardiovascular overload from working is dependent on the physical demand of the work and the worker's physical fitness, as well as the working hours. This cross-sectional study was designed to identify the association between overwork and cerebrocardiovascular disease, taking into account the physical demand of work, physical fitness, and work hours.

METHODS

Study data were obtained from surveillance of occupational cerebrocardiovascular disease. Questionnaire surveys including general and work-related characteristics were conducted. Maximum acceptable work time was estimated using the physical work demand and physical fitness of the subjects. The overwork index, which was the ratio of maximum acceptable work time and actual work hours of the subjects, was calculated.

RESULTS

In the workers with a moderate or high physical demand of work, the adjusted odds ratios for overwork indexes of 1.01-1.20, 1.21-1.50, and >1.50 were 2.679 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.025-6.999), 3.124 (95% CI 1.111-8.783), and 4.331 (95% CI 1.719-10.908), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that the risk of cerebrocardiovascular disease might be high in the workers with long working hours, high physical demand of work, and poor physical fitness engaged in work with a moderate to high physical work demand. Work hours should be accommodated according to the worker's physical fitness and the physical demand of work, and this could lower the risk of cerebrocardiovascular disease.

Long working hours may increase risk of coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between long working hours and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) estimated by Framingham risk score (FRS) in Korean adults.

METHODS

This study evaluated adult participants in Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV (2007-2009). After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, the final sample size for this study model was 8,350. Subjects were asked about working hours and health status. Participants also completed physical examinations and biochemical measurement necessary for estimation of FRS. Multiple logistic regression was conducted to investigate the association between working hours and 10-year risk for CHD estimated by FRS.

RESULTS

Compared to those who work 31-40 hr, significantly higher 10-year risk was estimated among subjects working longer hours. As working hours increased, odds ratio (OR) for upper 10 percent of estimated 10-year risk for CHD was increased up to 1.94.

CONCLUSIONS

Long working hours are significantly related to risk of coronary heart disease.

Association among Working Hours, Occupational Stress, and Presenteeism among Wage Workers: Results from the Second Korean Working Conditions Survey

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to identify the association between presenteeism and long working hours, shiftwork, and occupational stress using representative national survey data on Korean workers.

Methods

We analyzed data from the second Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS), which was conducted in 2010, in which a total of 6,220 wage workers were analyzed. The study population included the economically active population aged above 15 years, and living in the Republic of Korea. We used the chi-squared test and multivariate logistic regression to test the statistical association between presenteeism and working hours, shiftwork, and occupational stress.

Results

Approximately 19% of the workers experienced presenteeism during the previous 12 months. Women had higher rates of presenteeism than men. We found a statistically significant dose–response relationship between working hours and presenteeism. Shift workers had a slightly higher rate of presenteeism than non-shift workers, but the difference was not statistically significant. Occupational stress, such as high job demand, lack of rewards, and inadequate social support, had a significant association with presenteeism.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that long working hours and occupational stress are significantly related to presenteeism.

On-call work and physicians' well-being: testing the potential mediators

BACKGROUND

On-call duties have been rated to be among the most stressful aspects of physicians' work. On-call work has been associated, for example, with medical errors, injuries and lower well-being. Thus, because it is not possible to remove on-call duties, measures to decrease the negative ramifications of on-call work are needed.

AIMS

To examine whether working on-call would predict psychological distress, job satisfaction and work ability in a 4-year follow-up and whether sleeping problems or work interference with family (WIF) would act as mechanisms in these associations.

METHODS

Questionnaires in 2006 and 2010 among physicians in Finland. The mediation analyses were conducted using methods suggested by Preacher and Hayes to examine direct and indirect effects with multiple mediators.

RESULTS

There were 1541 respondents (60% women) of whom 52% had on-call duties. Sleeping problems and WIF acted as mechanisms in the association of existence of on-call duties with high distress, low job satisfaction and low work ability. On-call work was associated with higher levels of sleeping problems and WIF, and the number of active on-call hours was associated with higher levels of WIF, but not with sleeping problems.

CONCLUSIONS

According to our results, one way to attenuate on-call work's negative ramifications is to make it easier for on-call physicians to connect work and family lives and develop work arrangements to promote better sleep and protected sleep time.

The Association between Long Working Hours and Self-Rated Health

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to determine the number of hours worked per week by full-time wage workers by using the data of the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS), which represents the domestic urban area household, and to determine the association between weekly working hours and the level of self-rated health.

METHODS

We used data from the 11th KLIPS conducted in 2008. The subjects of this study were 3,699 full-time wage workers between the ages of 25 and 64 years. The association between weekly working hours and self-rated health was analyzed considering socio-demographic characteristics, work environment, and health-related behaviors.

RESULTS

Among the workers, 29.7% worked less than 40 hours per week; 39.7%, more than 40 to 52 hours; 19.7%, more than 52 to 60 hours; and 10.9%, more than 60 hours per week. After controlling for socio-demographic variables, work environment-related variables, and health-related behavior variables, the odds ratio (OR) for poor self-rated health for the group working more than 40 hours and up to 52 hours was calculated to be 1.06 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89-1.27) when the group working less than 40 hours per week was considered the reference. The OR for the group working more than 60 hours was 1.42 (95% CI, 1.10-1.83) and that for the group working more than 52 hours and up to 60 hours was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.86-1.33). After stratification by gender and tenure, the OR of the female workers group and that of the group with a tenure of more than 1 year were found to be significantly higher than those of the other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that workers working more than 60 hours per week have a significantly higher risk of poor self-rated health than workers working less than 40 hours per week. This effect was more obvious for the female workers group and the group with a tenure of more than 1 year. In the future, longitudinal studies may be needed to determine the association between long working hours and various health effects in Korean workers.

British pharmacists' work-life balance – is it a problem?

Objectives

Using a validated tool, the study aimed to explore pharmacists' experiences of maintaining work/life balance in a large, nationally representative sample of pharmacists in Great Britain (GB).

Methods

A two-page postal questionnaire was sent in 2008 to all GB-domiciled pharmacists who were registered with the regulatory body for pharmacy in GB (just over 44 000 pharmacists). Demographic information, work patterns and other employment data were collected and analysed using regression techniques to explore the link between these characteristics and a validated measure of work/life balance.

Key findings

The response rate to the census was 69.6% (n = 30 517). Eighty-three per cent (n = 25 243) of respondents were working as a pharmacist and were therefore eligible to complete the work/life balance statements. The results reported here relate to 12 364 individuals who had full data for the work/life balance scale and the demographic and work variables. Findings indicate that age, ethnicity, having caring responsibilities, sector of practice, hours of work and type of job are significant predictors of work/life balance problems.

Conclusions

Pharmacy employers and government should recognise the changing demographic characteristics of the profession and consider what support might be available to the workforce to help alleviate work/life balance problems being experienced by certain groups of pharmacists.

Work hours and perceived time barriers to healthful eating among young adults

OBJECTIVE

To describe time-related beliefs and behaviors regarding healthful eating, indicators of dietary intake, and their associations with the number of weekly hours of paid work among young adults.

METHODS

Population-based study in a diverse cohort (N=2287).

RESULTS

Working > 40 hours per week was associated with time-related barriers to healthful eating most persistently among young adult men. Associations were found among females working both part-time and > 40 hours per week with both time-related barriers and dietary intake.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings indicate that intervention strategies, ideally those addressing time burden, are needed to promote healthful eating among young, working adults.

The relationship of lifestyle factors, personal character, and mental health status of employees of a major Japanese electrical manufacturer

To examine the relationship lifestyle factors, personal character, mental health status, and job strain a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among employees of a leading electrical manufacturing company in Japan. A total of 2,327 workers (Male=1,668, Female=659) responded to the survey. We analyzed the relationships of health practices based on such factors as: Free child (FC) from the Egogram, the Working-life satisfaction, and the General Health Questionnaire-28 through Path-analysis techniques.The following results were obtained: The mental health status was significantly affected by such factors as health practices, Working-life satisfaction, personal character (FC), life satisfaction, and age. Health practices and personal character (FC) showed a direct relationship to the mental health status and an indirect relationship to the Working-life satisfaction and life satisfaction. The variances accounting for mental health status were 41.8% in male workers and 43.8% in female workers.Path-analysis data suggested that mental health status was affected about 40% by lifestyle, personal character, Working-life satisfaction, and life satisfaction. It was suggested that there might be important factors affecting mental health status but which are unknown to us by as much as 60% in the present day. These findings suggested the necessity of further investigation of the relationship among lifestyle factors, mental health status, and job strain among employees of a reputable company in the present day.

Headache prevalence and long working hours: the role of physical inactivity

OBJECTIVES

Headaches and long working hours are important issues for workers. This study investigated the association between hours worked and the prevalence of headaches, and how that association varies with physical activity.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study with two-stage cluster sampling.

METHODS

Using data from a nationally representative sample of households in Japan, people aged 20-65 years who worked ≥35 h/week were studied, and the cross-sectional association between the number of hours worked per week (35-45, 46-55 and >55 h/week) and the prevalence rates of headaches of different severity was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of 721 workers, 307 reported experiencing at least one headache per month. Compared with working 35-45 h/week, the prevalence ratios of severe or disabling headaches among individuals working >55 h/week were 1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.78] and 1.63 (95% CI 1.09-2.43), respectively. After stratification by the level of physical activity, the prevalence ratios were greater in the low-physical-activity group: 1.56 (95% CI 1.11-2.19) for severe headaches and 2.20 (95% CI 1.31-3.68) for disabling headaches. The number of hours worked was not associated with headaches in the high-physical-activity group.

CONCLUSIONS

Among workers in the general population, long working hours were associated with the prevalence of headaches, and the association may depend on a lack of physical activity.

Working hours and alcohol problems in early adulthood

AIMS

To examine the associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems during early adulthood.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Longitudinal study of a birth cohort born in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1977 and studied to age 30.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 1019 participants with data available for working hours and alcohol-related problems at either age 25 or 30.

MEASUREMENTS

Weekly working hours in paid employment; frequent alcohol use; diagnosis of alcohol abuse/dependence; number of symptoms of alcohol abuse/dependence. Associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems were adjusted for covariates including measures of: parental and family background; personality and behaviour; IQ and educational achievement; recent negative life events; recent mental health problems; and current partner and family circumstances.

FINDINGS

Longer work hours were associated significantly with more frequent alcohol use (P < 0.0001), higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence (P = 0.0001) and a greater number of alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms (P = 0.01). These associations were adjusted for a wide range of confounding factors. After adjustment there remained significant (P < 0.05) associations between working hours and alcohol-related problems, with those working 50 or more hours per week having rates of alcohol-related problems 1.8-3.3 times higher than those who were not working. The associations between work hours and alcohol use were similar for males and females.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer work hours appear to be associated with higher rates of alcohol-related problems, including more frequent alcohol use, higher rates of alcohol abuse/dependence and a greater number of alcohol abuse/dependence symptoms. These associations remain even after extensive adjustment for confounding.

Employment and work schedule are related to telomere length in women

OBJECTIVES

To examine the association of employment and work schedule with shorter DNA telomeres, a marker of cellular ageing and disease risk factor, and consider whether differences were related to health, behaviours and sociodemographic factors, or varied by stress levels or menopausal status.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis of 608 women aged 35-74 in the Sister Study examined determinants of relative telomere length (rTL) measured by quantitative PCR in leucocyte DNA. Age-adjusted regression models estimated base pair (bp) rTL differences for current and lifetime schedule characteristics (ie, part-time, full-time or overtime hours; multiple jobs; irregular hours; shiftwork; work at night). Covariates included race, smoking, perceived stress, sleep, physical activity, health and menopausal status, education, marital status, live births, children under 18, measured body mass index and urinary stress hormones.

RESULTS

Compared with non-employed women with moderate or substantial past work histories (n=190), those currently working full-time (n=247; median 40 h/week) had a shorter rTL, an age-adjusted difference of -329 bp (95% CI -110 to -548). Longer-duration full-time work was also associated with shorter rTL (age-adjusted difference of -472 bp, 95% CI -786 to -158 for 20+ vs 1-5 years). Findings were not explained by health and demographic covariates. However, rTL differences for working at least full-time were greater in women with higher stress and epinephrine levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Current and long-term full-time work were associated with shorter rTL, with differences of similar magnitude to smoking and history of heart disease or diabetes. Longitudinal data with specific stress measures are needed to further evaluate the impact of work schedule on rTL.

Differences between risk factors among irritable bowel syndrome subtypes in Japanese adults

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disease. Detailed clinical characteristics of patients with different IBS subtypes have not been well established. Our aim was to examine the prevalence and risk factors of IBS and its subtypes in Japanese adults.

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study of Japanese workers who visited a clinic for a routine health check-up and asked them to fill out a self-report questionnaire. Irritable bowel syndrome and its subtypes were defined by ROME III criteria. A logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors.

KEY RESULTS

Irritable bowel syndrome was present in 367 (13.5%) of 2717 eligible subjects; 79 had IBS with constipation (IBS-C); 102 had IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D); 89 had mixed IBS (IBS-M); and 97 had unsubtyped IBS (IBS-U). Irritable bowel syndrome was significantly associated with young age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80-0.95], female gender (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.38-2.29), low body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92-0.99), and the presence of allergic disease (OR = 2.19, 95% CI 1.40-3.54). Analysis of IBS subtypes revealed that IBS-C was associated with young age and female gender; IBS-D with young age, low BMI, and drinking habit; IBS-M with female gender, smoking habits, and allergic diseases; and IBS-U with age, female gender, and allergic diseases.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Irritable bowel syndrome was common and associated with young age, female gender, low BMI, and presence of allergic diseases in Japanese adults. Several differences were noted between the risk factors among different IBS subtypes.

Work hours, weight status, and weight-related behaviors: a study of metro transit workers

BACKGROUND

Associations between hours worked per week and Body Mass Index (BMI), food intake, physical activity, and perceptions of eating healthy at work were examined in a sample of transit workers.

METHODS

Survey data were collected from 1086 transit workers. Participants reported hours worked per week, food choices, leisure-time physical activity and perceptions of the work environment with regard to healthy eating. Height and weight were measured for each participant. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were conducted to examine associations between work hours and behavioral variables. Associations were examined in the full sample and stratified by gender.

RESULTS

Transit workers working in the highest work hour categories had higher BMI and poorer dietary habits, with results differing by gender. Working 50 or more hours per week was associated with higher BMI among men but not women. Additionally, working 50 or more hours per week was significantly associated with higher frequency of accessing cold beverage, cold food, and snack vending machines among men. Working 40 or more hours per week was associated with higher frequency of accessing cold food vending machines among women. Reported frequency of fruit and vegetable intake was highest among women working 50 or more hours per week. Intake of sweets, sugar sweetened beverages, and fast food did not vary with work hours in men or women. Physical activity and perception of ease of eating healthy at work were not associated with work hours in men or women.

CONCLUSIONS

Long work hours were associated with more frequent use of garage vending machines and higher BMI in transit workers, with associations found primarily among men. Long work hours may increase dependence upon food availability at the worksite, which highlights the importance of availability of healthy food choices.