Long Working Hours and Risk of Depression by Household Income Level: Findings From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES)

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between working hours and the risk of depression according to household income level.

Methods: We used the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The information on working hours was obtained from the questionnaire, and depression was assessed by The Patient Health Questionnaire-9. After stratifying by household income level, the risk of depression for long working hour group (more than or equal to 52 hours a week), compared with the 30 to 51 working hour group as a reference, were calculated using multiple logistic regression.

Results: It was found that long working hours associated with high risk for depression in the group with the highest income, but not in the group with the lowest income.

Conclusions: The relationship between long working hours and the risk of depression varied by household income level.