title: The impact of shift and night work on health related quality of life of working women: findings from the Korea Health Panel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Night and shift work status has been associated with health related quality of life (HRQoL) in economically active women. This study aimed to investigate the association between night or shift work status and HRQoL of economically active women and to further analyze how marital status interplays in the objected relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from the Korea Health Panel, 2011 to 2013. A total of 2238 working women were included for analysis. Work status was categorized into day work, night work, and rotating shift work and its association with HRQoL, measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) index, was investigated using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the day work reference group, the night work group (β: -0.9757, P = 0.0202) and the rotating shift work group (β: -0.7947, P = 0.0363) showed decreases in EQ-5D scores. This trend was maintained regardless of marital status, although decreases in health related quality of life were particularly pronounced among night shift workers with a spouse.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Night and rotating shift work status was associated with HRQoL of economically active women as individuals working night and rotating shifts showed decreases in EQ-5D scores compared to individuals working day shifts. The findings of this study signify the importance of monitoring the HRQoL status of women working night and rotating shifts as these individuals may be comparatively vulnerable to reduced HRQoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Woorim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Graduate School of Public Heath, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Hyun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.|Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ECPARK@yuhs.ac.|Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ECPARK@yuhs.ac.|Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea. ECPARK@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Eun-Cheol
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014931:Women, Working / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Economically active women; Marital status; Night shift; Quality of life; Rotating shift