title: Relationship between Long Working Hours and Suicidal Thoughts: Nationwide Data from the 4th and 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Long working hours are a worldwide problem and may increase the risk of various health issues. However, the health effects of long working hours on suicidal thoughts have not been frequently studied. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between long working hours and suicidal thoughts in the rapidly developing country of Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 12,076 participants (7,164 men, 4,912 women) from the 4th and 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used for the current analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for suicidal thoughts. Combined effects of long working hours and lower socioeconomic status or sleep disturbance were also estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to groups who worked less than 52 hours per week, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for suicidal thoughts in groups who worked 60 hours or more per week were 1.36 (1.09-1.70) for males and 1.38 (1.11-1.72) for females, even after controlling for household income, marital status, history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus, health-related behaviors, and past two weeks' experience of injury, intoxication, or acute or chronic diseases, as well as type of work. The combined effects of long working hours with lower socioeconomic status, or with sleep disturbance, were also significantly higher compared to participants who worked less than 52 hours per week with higher socioeconomic status, or with 6-8 hours of nighttime sleep.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, long working hours were linked to suicidal thoughts for both genders. Additionally, the odds of those suicidal thoughts were higher for lower socioeconomic groups. To prevent adverse psychological health problems such as suicidal thoughts, a strategy regarding long working hours should be investigated.
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Incheon Workers' Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Pil Kyun
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Incheon Workers' Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hongdeok
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Incheon Workers' Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Uk
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012890:Sleep; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014937:Work