Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Analysis of self-reported mental health problems among the self-employed compared with paid workers in the Republic of Korea: Yongho Lee, Junhyeong Lee, Ui-Jin Kim, Eunseun Han, Seunghon Ham, Won-Jun Choi, Seong-Kyu Kang, Wanhyung Lee; Ann Occup Environ Med 2022;34:e8. Published online April 8, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e8

Abstract Abstract in Korean PDF PubReader ePub

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

한국 자영업자의 주관적 정신건강 문제 : 제 5차 근로환경조사를 이용하여
목적
자영업자는 고용, 사업체 운영 등에 대한 스트레스를 받고 있으며 자신들의 건강관리에 취약한 것으로 여겨지고 있다. 이 연구는 자영업자들에게 초점을 맞춰 유급근로자들과 비교하여 정신건강 문제와 수면 장애를 분석하는 것을 목표로 하였다.
방법
이 연구는 한국의 5차 근로환경조사 데이터를 바탕으로 23,938명의 유급근로자와 10,812명의 자영업자들을 선택하여 분석을 수행하였다. 정신건강 문제는 ‘우울감’, ‘불안감’, ‘전신 피로’에 대한 설문과 수면 장애는 ‘잠들기가 어려움’, ‘자는 동안 반복적으로 깨어남’, ‘기진맥진함 또는 극도의 피곤함을 느끼며 깨어남’ 설문의 답변을 이용하였다. 자영업자의 정신건강 문제와 수면 장애를 분석하기 위해 다변량 로지스틱 회귀 분석을 시행하였다.
결과
자영업자에서의 ‘불안감’에 대한 보정된 오즈비는 1.25 (95% CI=1.09-1.42), ‘전신피로’는 1.11 (95% CI=1.04-1.17), ‘잠들기가 어려움’은 1.11 (95% CI=1.04-1.20), ‘자는 동안 반복적으로 깨어남’은 1.10 (95% CI=1.02-1.18) 그리고 ‘기진맥진함 또는 극도의 피곤함을 느끼며 깨어남’은 1.24 (95% CI=1.16-1.32)이었다.
결론
본 연구는 유급근로자에 비해 자영업자들의 정신건강 문제와 수면 장애의 위험성이 높은 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 자영업자들의 건강 보호와 증진을 위해 구조화된 설문, 전향적 연구 등의 추가적인 연구와 사회의 관심이 필요하다.

Citations

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Association between sickness presenteeism and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study using the 6th Korean working conditions survey
Myeong-Hun Lim, Min-Seok Kim, Seong-Uk Baek, Tae-Yeon Kim, Jong-Uk Won, Jin-Ha Yoon
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.2024; 97(5): 537. CrossRef
Sources of occupational stress in UK construction projects: an empirical investigation and agenda for future research
Saad Sarhan, Stephen Pretlove, Faris Elghaish, Sandra Matarneh, Alan Mossman
Smart and Sustainable Built Environment.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Occupational health and safety portrait of lobster fishers from a St. Lawrence Gulf community
Mathieu Tremblay, Dave Bergeron, Andrée-Anne Parent, Jérôme Pelletier, Daniel Paré, Martin Lavallière
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.2024; 30(3): 907. CrossRef
Multidimensional typologies of precarious employment and their relationships with mental well-being in Korean wageworkers: A latent class analysis based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey (2020–2021)
Seong-Uk Baek, Jong-Uk Won, Jin-Ha Yoon
Preventive Medicine.2023; 177: 107787. CrossRef
Association between Workers’ Anxiety over Technological Automation and Sleep Disturbance: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10051. CrossRef

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Research Article

The association between non-regular work patterns and insomnia among Korean wage workers: the fifth Korean working condition survey: Ho-Yeon Kim, Juho Choi, Hyun-Mook Lim, Chamjin Park, Yun-Chul Hong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2021;33:e9. Published online March 29, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e9

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Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

Citations

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Association between depressive symptoms and employment type of Korean workers: the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey
Yun-Jung Yang, Jihye Lee
BMC Public Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Telecommuting-related health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea: a national population-based cross-sectional study
Seung-Woo Ryoo, Jin-Young Min, Dong-Wook Lee, Baek-Yong Choi, Juho Choi, Ho-Yeon Kim, Kyoung-Bok Min
BMC Public Health.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Association between Workers’ Anxiety over Technological Automation and Sleep Disturbance: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10051. CrossRef
Health-Related Productivity Loss According to Health Conditions among Workers in South Korea
Dong-Wook Lee, Jongin Lee, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Mo-Yeol Kang
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2021; 18(14): 7589. CrossRef

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Research Article

Combined effect of emotional labor and job insecurity on sleep disturbance among customer service workers: Sunguk Choi, Kwon Ko, Jae Bum Park, Kyung-Jong Lee, Seungho Lee, Inchul Jeong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2020;32:e33. Published online September 10, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e33

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Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

Citations

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Associations between precarious employment and smoking and regular exercise: Results from a Korean longitudinal panel study from 2005 to 2020
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
Preventive Medicine.2023; 168: 107420. CrossRef
Association between high emotional demand at work, burnout symptoms, and sleep disturbance among Korean workers: a cross-sectional mediation analysis
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Association between Precarious Employment and Smoking and Regular Exercise: Results from Nationally Representative Surveys from 2005 to 2020
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
SSRN Electronic Journal .2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Association between Workers’ Anxiety over Technological Automation and Sleep Disturbance: Results from a Nationally Representative Survey
Seong-Uk Baek, Jin-Ha Yoon, Jong-Uk Won
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(16): 10051. CrossRef
The Importance of an Emotional Expression Guide to Prevent Work-Related Health Problems in Emotional Laborers
Ji Sun Ha, Jin Ah Kim
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Won Ju Hwang, Hye Kyung Yang, Ji Hye Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2020; 17(21): 8019. CrossRef

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Research Article

Association between change in working time arrangements and sleep disturbance: Ryun Ha, Jae Bum Park, Kyung-Jong Lee, Sunguk Choi, Inchul Jeong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2020;32:e18. Published online June 18, 2020; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2020.32.e18

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

Workers who experience change in work time arrangement show a high risk of sleep disturbance in both sexes.

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Research Article

The association between dependent self-employment and self-reported depression/anxiety and sleep disorder in South Korea: Guyeon Won, Jae Bum Park, Kyung-Jong Lee, Ryun Ha, Seungho Lee, Inchul Jeong; Ann Occup Environ Med 2019;31:e13. Published online July 29, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2019.31.e13

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Background

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

Dependent self-employment is related to an increased risk of self-reported depression/anxiety and sleep disorder in South Korea.

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Association between precarious employment and the onset of depressive symptoms in men and women: a 13-year longitudinal analysis in Korea (2009–2022)
Seong-Uk Baek, Jong-Uk Won, Yu-Min Lee, Jin-Ha Yoon
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(2): 1011. CrossRef
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Journal of Affective Disorders.2021; 295: 21. CrossRef

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Research Article

Long Working Hours and Emotional Well-Being in Korean Manufacturing Industry Employees: Kyoung-Hye Lee, Jong-Eun Kim, Young-Ki Kim, Dong-Mug Kang, Myeong-Ja Yun, Shin-Goo Park, Jae-Seok Song, Sang-Gil Lee; Ann Occup Environ Med 2013;25:38-38. Published online December 5, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-25-38

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Objectives

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.

Methods

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.

Results

Working for extended working hours in the manufacturing industry showed a statistically significant increase (t test p < 0.001) in trend among the possible depression group when compared to the reference group and the low-mood group. When demographical characteristics, health behaviors, socioeconomic state, and work-related characteristics were fixed as controlled variables, as work hours increased the odds ratio of the possible depression group increased compared to the reference group, and especially the odds ratio was 2.73 times increased for work hours between 48–52 and 4.09 times increased for 60 hours or more and both were statistically significant. In comparing the low-mood group and possible depression group, as work hours increased the odds ratio increased to 1.73, 2.39, and 4.16 times, and all work hours from working 48–52 hours, 53–60 hours, and 60 hours or more were statistically significant. Multinomial logistic regression analysis also showed that among the reference group and possible group, the possible depression group was statistically significant as odds ratio increased to 2.94 times in working 53–60 hours, and 4.35 times in 60 hours or more.

Conclusions

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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