As self-employed workers are vulnerable to health problems, this study aimed to analyze mental health problems and sleep disturbances among self-employed workers compared with paid workers in Korea.
A total of 34,750 workers (23,938 paid workers and 10,812 self-employed workers) were analyzed from the fifth Korean Working Condition Survey, which included 50,205 households collected by stratified sampling in 2017. To compare mental health problems and sleep disturbance among self-employed workers and paid workers, multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.
The odds ratio in self-employed workers compared with paid workers was 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.42) for anxiety, 1.11 (95% CI: 1.04–1.17) for overall fatigue, 1.11 (95% CI: 1.04–1.20) for difficulty falling asleep, 1.10 (95% CI: 1.02–1.18) for difficulty maintaining sleep and 1.24 (95% CI: 1.16–1.32) for extreme fatigue after waking up.
Self-employed workers in Korea have a higher risk of self-reported mental health problems and sleep disturbances than paid workers. Further studies with a longitudinal design and structured evaluation are required to investigate the causal relationship between health problems and self-employment.
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Non-regular workers are steadily increasing on account of improving corporate productivity. They are classified as non-permanent, part-time, or non-typical workers. Non-regular work has a negative impact on workers' physical and mental health. This study analyzed the relationship between non-permanent, part-time and non-typical work and insomnia among Korean wage workers, and investigated the differences and interactions between different work patterns.
The Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey was used in this study. Non-regular work patterns were classified into 7 types: type 1, sole non-permanent; type 2, sole part-time; type 3, sole non-typical; type 4, part-time-non-typical; type 5, non-permanent-non-typical; type 6, non-permanent-part-time; type 7, all inclusive. Insomnia was measured on a scale from “normal sleep” to “insomnia” based on the 3-item Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the association between non-regular work patterns and insomnia among wage workers.
After multivariate adjustment, a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for insomnia was found in types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of non-regular work patterns compared to regular work patterns. After stratification for shift and night work, the OR of the group with shift and night work was higher than that of the group without shift and night work.
Insomnia was significantly associated with non-regular work patterns. This association was prominent in workers with shifts and night work. This finding suggests that proper work patterns may be needed to reduce the risk of insomnia among Korean wage workers and workers who initially had insomnia should consider these results before placement.
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Job insecurity and emotional labor are poor job-related factors that are known to cause sleep disturbances in customer service workers. This study investigates the combined effect of emotional labor and job insecurity on sleep disturbance.
This study used data from the Fifth Korean Working Condition Survey and included 15,147 paid workers who serve customers below 65 years. We re-classified into 6 groups based on whether the degree of emotional labor increased (Rarely/Sometimes/Always) or whether job insecurity (No/Yes) was present. We performed propensity score matching for several covariates and calculated odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sleep disturbance by logistic regression models using only matched subjects.
Workers exposed to emotional labor and job insecurity had significantly higher risk for 3 dimensions of sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the sleep, and waking up with feeling of fatigue) (OR [95% CI]: 1.44 [1.22–1.69], 1.18 [0.99–1.40], 1.52 [1.30–1.79] for emotional labor; and 2.00 [1.75–2.29], 2.20 [1.91–2.53], 1.67 [1.45–1.92] for job insecurity). Compared to those who were exposed to both emotional labor rarely and without job insecurity, when workers had both poor job factors, the OR (95% CI) for sleep disturbance for difficulty falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the sleep, and waking up with feeling of fatigue were 3.05 (2.42–3.86), 2.89 (2.26–3.69), and 2.60 (2.06–3.29), respectively. The relative excess risk due to Interaction of job insecurity and emotional labor was significant only for difficulty falling asleep, but not the other 2 sleep disturbance dimensions.
Customer service workers suffered from severe sleep disturbances according to the existing degree of emotional labor and job insecurity. The combined effect of both could have an additive influence on serious sleep disturbance among customer service workers.
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Change in working time arrangement (WTA) can be harmful to workers' sleep and health. This study aimed to investigate the association between change in working time arrangement and sleep disturbance.
This study used data from the Fifth Korean Working Condition Survey and included 33,203 paid workers. We performed a stratified analysis by sex. After dividing the participants into 6 groups based on whether or not they experienced WTA changes, and their weekly working hours (≤40, 41–52, ≥53 hours), we calculated odds ratio (OR) using the weekly working hours ≤40 hours and with no WTA change as the reference group.
Of the 33,203 paid workers, participants who experienced change in working time arrangement had higher prevalence of all three types of sleep disturbance symptoms (difficulty in falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during sleep, and waking up with a feeling of exhaustion and fatigue) in both sexes. Compared to the reference group at 95% confidence interval (CI), the group with change in WTA showed elevated OR values of 1.91 (95% CI: 1.73–2.11), 1.93 (95% CI: 1.74–2.14), 2.47 (95% CI: 2.26–2.71) for male workers; and 1.93 (95% CI: 1.73–2.16), 2.02 (95% CI: 1.80–2.27), 2.24 (95% CI: 2.01–2.50) for female workers, for difficulty in falling asleep, waking up repeatedly during the sleep, waking up with a feeling of exhaustion, and fatigue, respectively.
Workers who experience change in work time arrangement show a high risk of sleep disturbance in both sexes.
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Dependent self-employment is precarious employment, which can be vulnerable to mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the association of dependent self-employment with depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder in South Korea.
This study used data from the Fourth Korean Working Conditions Survey and included 32,691 paid workers. Dependent self-employment and self-reported depression/anxiety, and sleep disorder were investigated using a questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between dependent self-employment and mental health problems.
Of the 32,691 paid workers, 2,371 (7.3%) were dependent self-employed workers. The odds ratio (OR) of dependent self-employment for self-reported depression/anxiety was 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–2.45) and the OR of dependent self-employment for self-reported sleep disorder was 1.26 (95% CI: 1.01–1.59) compared to other paid workers.
Dependent self-employment is related to an increased risk of self-reported depression/anxiety and sleep disorder in South Korea.
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Korea is well known for its long work hours amongst employees. Because workers of the manufacturing industry are constantly exposed to extended work hours, this study was based on how long work hours affect their emotional well-being.
The analysis was done using the secondary Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). Long work hours were defined to be more than 48 hours, and they were subcategorized into units of 52 hours and 60 hours. Based on the WHO (five) well-being index, emotional state was subdivided into three groups - reference group, low-mood group, and possible depression group- where 28 points and 50 points were division points, and two groups were compared at a time. Association between long work hours and emotional state was analyzed using binary and multinomial logistic regression analysis.
Working for extended working hours in the manufacturing industry showed a statistically significant increase (
Long work hours have an adverse effect on emotional well-being. A more diversified research towards variables that affect long work hours and emotional well-being and how they interact with each other and their relationship to overall health is imperative.
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