Long Working Hours and Subjective Fatigue Symptoms.

Abstract

Presuming that overtime work may associate with chronic fatigue and then decrease cardiovascular function, this report was prepared to find out the definite positive relationship between long working hours and subjective fatigue complaints. We analysed the data of a field survey of 238 men who were working at the department of research & development of three electronics manufacturing companies in S. Korea. The field survey consisted of self-report questionnaires on the working hours, health conditions, and fatigue. For data analysis, the subjects were divided into 3 groups on the criteria of 60 and 70 working hours per week: less longer (LLWH), longer (LWH), and more longer (MLWH) working hour groups. We compared the age-adjusted mean % scores of fatigue complaints among LLWH, LWH, and MLWH. The rate of complaints of subjective fatigue before going to work for LWH and MLWH tended to be significantly higher than those for LLWH. Hence, we conclude that the questionnaire on the subjective fatigue complaints is a good screening tool for early detection of cumulative fatigue due to chronic job stress such as long working hours.

Work Hours and Self-Reported Hypertension Among Working People in California

“…8,14 -16,34 In addition, a number of studies have also shown that long work hours lead to disability retirement 35 and are related to selfreported physical health problems and fatigue, 36 as well as increased rates of accidents and injuries at work. 9,37,38 This study also shows a statistically significant occupational variation in self-reported hypertension. The pattern of professionals having a lower prevalence of hypertension than that of clerical and unskilled workers is consistent with other studies, which suggests that occupations requiring more challenging and mentally active work may have a protective effect against hypertension.…”

The effects of sleep duration on the incidence of cardiovascular events among middle-aged male workers in Japan

“…In addition to traditional risk factors, occupational factors should also be considered. In previous studies, shorter sleep duration has been associated with longer working hours (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Shift work induces sleep problems (25).…”

“…More importantly, the majority of the relevant previous studies were conducted in populations comprising a broad age range, including young, middle-aged, and elderly people, who may have had different confounding effects on the true relationship. Among elderly individuals, health status, including underlying diseases, strongly influences sleep duration (8), whereas among young and middle-aged individuals, sleep duration depends significantly on occupational factors including working hours (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Since occupational factors may confound the true association between sleep duration and cardiovascular events among middle-age individuals, occupational factors should be considered in the determination of the relationship between cardiovascular events and sleep duration.…”

Work stress and overtime work: Effects on cortisol, sleep, sleepiness and health

“…However there are some data from questionnaire studies indicating greater fatigue in relation to overtime work (Hayashi et al, 1996;Park et al, 2001;Proctor et al, 1996). A questionnaire study by Park et al (2001) found that the group with a greater number of work hours per week reported more fatigue before going to work than those with shorter hours. Proctor et al (1996) carried out one of the few studies that have employed cognitive measures.…”