Journal Article

The Association between Long Working Hours and Health: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Evidence

Akiko Tamakoshi, Akira Bannai

2014

Overview

Objectives Many studies have investigated the association between long working hours and health. By focusing on differences in the definition of long working hours and the influence of shift work, we attempt to explain why the results of these studies remain inconclusive. Methods We defined long working hours as working time greater than around 40 hours per week or 8 hours per day. Since previous studies have indicated that shift work is detrimental to health, we minimized the influence of shift work in the studies. We also placed importance on the existence of reference groups since this made the results clearer. Based on these points, we analyzed previous studies to clarify the epidemiological evidence regarding the association between long working hours and health. We established inclusion criteria and carried out a systematic search for articles published in the Mediine and PsycINFO databases between 1995-2012. Results We identified a total of 17 articles and 19 studies (12 prospective cohort and 7 cross-sectional studies). The outcomes were all-cause mortality, circulatory disease, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, depressive state, anxiety, other psychological disorders, sleep condition, cognitive function, and health-related behavior. Long working hours had significant adverse effects on most health outcomes. Conclusions We concluded that working long hours is associated with depressive state, anxiety, sleep condition, and coronary heart disease. However, further studies that appropriately deal with the definition of long working hours and shift work are needed.

• Publisher: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health,Nordic Association of Occupation Safety and Health,Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health,Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health,Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH)
• Subject: Adult and adolescent clinical studies / all-cause mortality / Anxiety / Anxiety disorders / Biological and medical sciences / Cardiovascular diseases / circulatory disease / Cognitive ability / Cognitive functioning / Cognitive-behavioral factors / Cohort studies / Coronary artery disease / Cross-sectional studies / Depression / Depressive disorders / Diabetes / diabetes mellitus / Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance / Disease / Disorders / Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases) / Endocrinopathies / Epidemiologic Studies / epidemiological evidence / Epidemiology / Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance / health / Health behavior / Health Status / health-related behavior / Humans / Hypertension / Japan - epidemiology / long working hour / Medical sciences / Men / Mental depression / Mental disorders / Mental health / Mental illness / Metabolic disorders / Metabolic syndrome / Mood disorders / Occupational medicine / Overtime / Psychological distress / Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry / Psychopathology. Psychiatry / Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine / Reference groups / Review / Shift work / Shiftwork / Side effects / Sleep / Systematic review / Work hours / Work Schedule Tolerance / Working conditions / working hour / Working hours / working time