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Although precarious employment (PE) has emerged as a growing public health concern, research on older adults is scarce. This study explored the associations between PE and the onset of depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use among middle-aged and older workers. A total of 2536 Korean waged workers aged ≥45 years contributed 8486 observations from 2006 to 2022. PE was defined as a multidimensional construct that includes employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and a lack of worker rights and protection. Depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the CAGE questionnaire. Generalized estimating equations were employed to determine the association of PE with depressive symptoms and problematic alcohol use after the two-year follow-up. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Women, individuals with older age and low educational background, and blue-collar workers were more likely to belong to the high PE group. For individual indicators of PE, daily employment (RR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05-1.53), the lowest wage quartile (RR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.01-1.72), and lack of trade union (RR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.10-2.17) were positively associated with depressive symptom onset in the follow-up. Compared with the group with the lowest overall PE, the group with the highest PE exhibited increased risks of experiencing the onset of depressive symptoms (RR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.27-2.08) and problematic alcohol use (RR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.16-5.17) in the follow-up. This study suggests that PE is a major social determinant of older workers' mental health.
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Background: Accurate occupation classification is essential in various fields, including policy development and epidemiological studies. This study aims to develop an occupation classification model based on DistilKoBERT. Methods: This study used data from the 5th and 6th Korean Working Conditions Surveys conducted in 2017 and 2020, respectively. A total of 99,665 survey participants, who were nationally representative of Korean workers, were included. We used natural language responses regarding their job responsibilities and occupational codes based on the Korean Standard Classification of Occupations (7th version, 3-digit codes). The dataset was randomly split into training and test datasets in a ratio of 7:3. The occupation classification model based on DistilKoBERT was fine-tuned using the training dataset, and the model was evaluated using the test dataset. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score were calculated as evaluation metrics. Results: The final model, which classified 28,996 survey participants in the test dataset into 142 occupational codes, exhibited an accuracy of 84.44%. For the evaluation metrics, the precision, recall, and F1 score of the model, calculated by weighting based on the sample size, were 0.83, 0.84, and 0.83, respectively. The model demonstrated high precision in the classification of service and sales workers yet exhibited low precision in the classification of managers. In addition, it displayed high precision in classifying occupations prominently represented in the training dataset. Conclusions: This study developed an occupation classification system based on DistilKoBERT, which demonstrated reasonable performance. Despite further efforts to enhance the classification accuracy, this automated occupation classification model holds promise for advancing epidemiological studies in the fields of occupational safety and health.
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OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between precarious employment (PE) and mental well-being, focusing on age-specific interactions. METHODS: Nationally representative Korean workers (N = 29,961) were surveyed between 2020 and 2021 to collect data on multidimensional PE (categorized as low, moderate, or high) and the WHO-5 well-being index. Workers' ages were classified as young (<35 years), middle-aged (35-54 years), and older (≥55 years). Logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The interaction between PE and age on well-being was examined by including interaction terms in the regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of poor well-being was 25%, 29%, and 39% for low, moderate, and high precariousness, respectively, whereas it was 26%, 30%, and 39% for young, middle-aged, and older workers, respectively. In the overall sample, the OR (95% CI) of the association between PE and poor well-being was 1.24 (1.17-1.32) for moderate and 1.54 (1.43-1.65) for high precariousness, compared with low precariousness. There was a significant interaction between old age and PE on the odds of poor well-being. Compared with young workers with low PE, middle-aged workers with high PE (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.62-2.10) and older workers with high PE (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.83-2.40) exhibited increased odds of having poor mental well-being. CONCLUSION: PE serves as a social determinant of older workers' psychological well-being. Policy interventions are required to protect older workers' psychological well-being.
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Empleo , Salud Mental , Humanos , República de Corea/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Femenino , Masculino , Adulto , Empleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Empleo/psicología , Salud Mental/estadística & datos numéricos , Factores de Edad , Modelos Logísticos , Anciano , Seguridad del EmpleoRESUMEN
Objective: We explored depressive symptom trajectories and their associations with underweight and obesity in Korean women.Methods: This prospective cohort study involved 7,691 women enrolled in the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families, with a follow-up period spanning from 2014 to 2020. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the 10-item version of the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Growth mixture modeling was employed to identify trajectories of depressive symptoms. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to investigate the correlation between depression trajectories and the evolving risks of underweight and obesity over the study period.Results: Five distinct trajectory classes were observed ("persistent low symptoms": N = 5,236, 68.1%; "decreasing symptoms": N = 930, 12.1%; "transient high symptoms": N = 421, 5.5%; "increasing symptoms" N = 825, 10.7%; and "persistent high symptoms": N = 279, 3.6%). Those with a low socioeconomic status, comorbidity, and who were divorced or widowed were more likely to follow the persistent high symptom trajectory. Among the 5 trajectories, the risks of underweight and obesity steadily increased in women following the trajectory with persistent high symptoms. For these women, the odds ratio (OR) of underweight increased from 2.27 (95% CI, 1.32-3.92) in 2014 to 3.39 (1.91-6.05) in 2020. They were not associated with obesity in 2014 (OR [95% CI]: 1.38 [0.61-3.11]) but exhibited an elevated risk of obesity in 2020 (3.76 [1.97-7.17]).Conclusion: We observed considerable heterogeneity in the trajectories of depressive symptoms among women, and individuals with persistent high depressive symptoms face an escalating risk of both underweight and obesity.
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Depresión , Obesidad , Delgadez , Humanos , Femenino , Delgadez/epidemiología , República de Corea/epidemiología , Obesidad/epidemiología , Adulto , Estudios Longitudinales , Depresión/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Prospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , ComorbilidadRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Social jetlag, the misalignment between biological and social rhythms, can lead to adverse health outcomes. This study explored the association between social jetlag and hazardous alcohol consumption, as well as the sex differences in this association. METHODS: This study included a nationally representative sample of Korean workers consisting of 11,462 individuals (5479 women). Social jetlag was calculated as the difference in the mid-point between sleep onset and offset on free days and workdays. Hazardous alcohol consumption was determined using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption (range 0-12), with a cutoff of ≥6 for men, ≥5 for women, and ≥3 for those aged ≥65. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among men, 599 out of 5983 individuals (10.0 %) had ≥120 min of social jetlag. Among women, 550 out of 5479 individuals (10.0 %) had ≥120 min of social jetlag. The prevalence of hazardous alcohol use was 56.2 % for men and 27.3 % for women. In the regression analysis, there was a significant sex interaction, where social jetlag ≥120 min was associated with hazardous alcohol consumption in female workers (OR: 1.52, 95 % CI: 1.18-1.96), but not in male workers (OR: 1.04, 95 % CI: 0.84-1.29). CONCLUSION: High social jetlag was associated with an increased likelihood of hazardous alcohol consumption among women. Our findings underscore the importance of considering sex differences in future research and policy interventions regarding social jetlag and its associated behavior outcomes.
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Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Estudios Transversales , República de Corea/epidemiología , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/epidemiología , Adulto , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores Sexuales , Prevalencia , Síndrome Jet Lag/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Temporary employment is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. This study explored the association between temporary employment and dietary quality in middle-aged workers. This cross-sectional study included a nationwide sample of middle-aged Korean workers (n = 6467). Employment type was categorized into regular, fixed-term, and daily employment, based on labor contract duration. Dietary quality was assessed using the Korean Health Eating Index (KHEI), which ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating superior dietary quality. Linear regression was used to estimate beta coefficients (ß) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The survey-weighted proportion of regular, fixed-term, and daily employment was 79.0%, 14.2%, and 6.8%, respectively. Fixed-term and daily employment were associated with a reduced KHEI compared with regular employment (ß [95% CI]: -1.07 [-2.11, -0.04] for fixed-term and -2.46 [-3.89, -1.03] for daily employment). In sex-stratified analysis, the association between temporary employment and dietary quality was more pronounced in men (ß [95% CI]: -1.69 [-3.71, 0.33] for fixed-term and -2.60 [-4.63, -0.53] for daily employment than in women. In conclusion, this study suggests that temporary employment is a social determinant of dietary quality in middle-aged workers.
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Dieta Saludable , Empleo , Humanos , Femenino , República de Corea , Masculino , Empleo/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Transversales , Dieta Saludable/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Dieta/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
This study explored the relationship between the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This cross-sectional study included 34,174 Korean adults. The KHEI was composed of three subcomponents (adequacy, moderation, and energy balance) and calculated based on a 24 h dietary recall. The total score ranged from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating a greater adherence to the Korean dietary guidelines. The total KHEI scores were categorized into quartiles (Q1-Q4). NAFLD was classified using the hepatic steatosis index. Logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The adjusted OR (95% CI) of NAFLD was 0.95 (0.87-1.03) for the Q2 group, 0.90 (0.83-0.98) for the Q3 group, and 0.79 (0.72-0.87) for the Q4 group, compared with the Q1 group. Among the subcomponents of the KHEI, individuals with high scores in the adequacy component, characterized by an abundant consumption of fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, exhibited the most pronounced association with NAFLD. A higher KHEI score was negatively associated with NAFLD in Korean adults. Therefore, the promotion of healthy dietary patterns can play a beneficial role in the prevention or management of NAFLD.
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Dieta Saludable , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico , Humanos , Enfermedad del Hígado Graso no Alcohólico/epidemiología , República de Corea/epidemiología , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Dieta Saludable/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Transversales , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dieta/estadística & datos numéricos , Anciano , Verduras , Conducta Alimentaria , Adulto Joven , Política Nutricional , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
AIMS: Increasing social concern surrounds the potential adverse health effects of precarious employment (PE). In this study, we explored the association between PE and the onset of depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 11,555 Korean waged workers (5700 females) contributed 62,217 observations from 2009 to 2022. PE was operationalized as a multidimensional construct, including employment insecurity, income inadequacy and lack of rights and protection. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (11-item version). The association between PE and the onset of depressive symptoms in the subsequent year was estimated using generalized estimating equations. Effect sizes were reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The overall incidence of depressive symptoms was 8.3% during the study period. In cross-sectional analysis, daily employment, disguised employment, lower monthly wages and lack of social insurance coverage were associated with concurrent depressive symptoms in both men and women. Longitudinally, fixed-term employment (OR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07-1.29), daily employment (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.45-1.85) and disguised employment (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.17-1.57) were associated with the onset of depressive symptoms among the overall sample. Among men, the lowest quartiles of wage were associated with the onset of depressive symptoms (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.13-1.60), while the absence of a trade union was associated among women (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Employment insecurity, inadequate income and lack of rights and protection may contribute to depressive symptoms. Therefore, PE serves as a significant social determinant of mental health among workers in Korea. Active policy efforts are warranted to improve the overall quality of employment in the workforce.
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Depresión , Seguridad del Empleo , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Depresión/psicología , Estudios Transversales , Empleo/psicología , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study aimed to reveal the relationship of the days of experiencing sickness presentism and depressive symptoms among Korean workers. Sickness presenteeism which defined as the act of going to work despite being feeling unhealthy triggers various adverse effects on mental health, including increased risks of depression. Furthermore, Sickness presenteeism is a major social issue causing substantial socioeconomic costs. METHODS: The data of 25120 participants from sixth Korean Working Condition Survey was utilized in this cross-sectional study. Sickness presenteeism was defined using a self-reported questionnaire and depressive symptoms were assessed by WHO well-being index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to calculate the odd ratios for depressive symptoms regarding the number of days experiencing sickness presenteeism. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for depressive symptoms after categorizing participants into three groups based on the duration of experiencing sickness presenteeism, using cut-off values of 3 and 5 days. RESULTS: Workers who have experienced sickness presenteeism for more than 5 days were at highest risk for depressive symptoms than referent group (OR 2.87; 95% CI 2.17-3.76 in male, OR 3.86; 95% CI 3.02-4.91 in female). Furthermore, there was a trend of increasing risk for depressive symptom as the duration of experiencing sickness presenteeism extended. CONCLUSION: This study presents the association between experiencing sickness presenteeism in the previous 12 months and depressive symptoms. Based on the results, we provide individual and organizational strategies of reducing sickness presenteeism. Also, screening for workers who have experienced sickness presenteeism are needed to ensure good mental health.
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Depresión , Presentismo , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Presentismo/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Transversales , Depresión/epidemiología , Adulto , República de Corea/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Ausencia por Enfermedad/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto Joven , Factores de Riesgo , Condiciones de TrabajoRESUMEN
Background There has been growing concern about the negative mental health impact of long working hours and overwork. Our study examined how work-life imbalance (WLI) could be a mediator between working hours and poor mental well-being.Methods We included 34,968 individuals from a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Korea. Self-reported working hours per week was collected, and mental health was assessed by the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Counterfactual-based mediation models were employed to disentangle the total effects into a direct effect (work hour - poor mental health) and an indirect effect (work hour - WLI - poor mental health).Results Out of 34,968 participants, 52.6% worked 35-40 h/week, 20.0% worked 41-48 h/week, 11.7% worked 49-54 h/week, and 15.6% worked ≥55 h/week. The odds ratios (ORs) of the total impact of working hours on poor mental health were 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01-1.16) for 41-48 h/week, 1.28 (1.17-1.39) for 49-54 h/week, and 1.60 (1.48-1.74) for ≥55 h/week in comparison to 35-40 h/week. The ORs of the indirect effects were 1.04 (1.03-1.05) for 41-48 h/week, 1.08 (1.07-1.09) for 49-54 h/week, and 1.14 (1.12-1.16) for ≥55 h/week, accounting for 51%, 31%, and 28% of the total effects.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that WLI can partially mediate the association of long working hours with mental health deterioration. Policy efforts are required to mitigate the adverse mental health effects of overwork.
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OBJECTIVES: Long working hours and overwork are growing public health concerns in the Western-Pacific region. We explored the relationship between working hours and smoking behaviors of Korean workers. METHODS: This study included 284 782 observations (50 508 workers) from four nationwide cohort studies in Korea. Using generalized estimating equations, we estimated the associations of working hours with current smoking status, smoking initiation, and smoking cessation within each cohort. Cohort-specific estimates were combined through random-effect meta-analysis. Effect sizes were presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95 confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The overall smoking prevalence was 26.8% within the cohorts. The adjusted OR (95% CI) of the association between working hours and current smoking were 1.01 (0.94-1.08) for <35 hours/week, 1.04 (1.01-1.09) for 41-48 hours/week, 1.06 (1.01-1.10) for 49-54 hours/week, and 1.07 (1.04-1.10) for ≥55 hours/week compared with 35-40 hours/week. The adjusted OR (95% CI) of the association between working hours and smoking cessation in the follow-up were 0.93 (0.85-1.02) for <35 hours/week, 0.89 (0.83-0.96) for 41-48 hours/week, 0.87 (0.81-0.95) for 48-54 hours/week, and 0.91 (0.85-0.98) for ≥55 hours/week compared with 35-40 hours/week. No clear associations were observed between working hours and smoking initiation. CONCLUSION: Long working hours are associated with high current smoking risk and reduced likelihood of smoking cessation among Korean workers. Policy interventions are required to promote smoking cessation and reduce excess overwork for individuals experiencing long working hours.
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Cese del Hábito de Fumar , Fumar , Humanos , República de Corea/epidemiología , Masculino , Femenino , Adulto , Fumar/epidemiología , Cese del Hábito de Fumar/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios de Cohortes , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tolerancia al Trabajo Programado , Prevalencia , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Background Previous studies have suggested that employment insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes. We explored the association between temporary employment and smoking behaviors.Methods We analyzed 11,795 workers (51,867 observations) from the Korea Health Panel Study (2009-2018). Employment types were categorized as regular, fixed-term, or daily, based on the duration of labor contract. The outcomes were current smoking status and changes in smoking behavior (initiation or cessation) in the following year. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results The proportions of fixed-term and daily workers were 41.2% and 16.4% for women and 23.6% and 12.4% for men, respectively. Temporary employment was associated with increased odds of current smoking, while also demonstrating prospective associations with changes in smoking behaviors. For instance, in prospective analyses, male workers with fixed-term and daily employments were associated with a decreased likelihood of smoking cessation (OR:0.77; 95% CI:0.65-0.91 for fixed-term employment and OR:0.66; 95% CI:0.52-0.83 for daily employment) in the following year compared to those with regular employment. Moreover, those experiencing consecutive temporary employment was most inversely associated with smoking cessation in both men (OR:0.56; 95% CI:0.44-0.71) and women (OR:0.37; 95% CI:0.16-0.85) compared to those experiencing consecutive regular employment. However, no clear association between temporary employment and smoking initiation was observed in both men and women.Conclusions Temporary employment is directly associated with current smoking and inversely associated with smoking cessation. Policies are needed to improve job insecurity among temporary employees.
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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most lethal types of cancer, and novel treatment regimens are direly needed. Epigenetic regulation contributes to the development of various cancer types, but its role in the development of and potential as a therapeutic target for PDAC remains underexplored. Here, we show that PRMT1 is highly expressed in murine and human pancreatic cancer and is essential for cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. Deletion of PRMT1 delays pancreatic cancer development in a KRAS-dependent mouse model, and multi-omics analyses reveal that PRMT1 depletion leads to global changes in chromatin accessibility and transcription, resulting in reduced glycolysis and a decrease in tumorigenic capacity. Pharmacological inhibition of PRMT1 in combination with gemcitabine has a synergistic effect on pancreatic tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings implicate PRMT1 as a key regulator of pancreatic cancer development and a promising target for combination therapy.
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Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático , Neoplasias Pancreáticas , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Epigénesis Genética , Gemcitabina , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/genética , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/patología , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/genética , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/metabolismo , Proteína-Arginina N-Metiltransferasas/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismoRESUMEN
Combinatorial immuno-cancer therapy is recognized as a promising approach for efficiently treating malignant tumors. Yet, the development of multifunctional nanomedicine capable of precise tumor targeting, remote activation, and immune-regulating drug delivery remains a significant challenge. In this study, nanoparticles loaded with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (JQ-1) using polypyrrole/hyaluronic acid (PPyHA/JQ-1) are developed. These nanoparticles offer active tumor targeting, photothermal tumor ablation using near-infrared light, and laser-controlled JQ-1 release for efficient breast cancer treatment. When the molecular weight of HA varies (from 6.8 kDa to 3 MDa) in the PPyHA nanoparticles, it is found that the nanoparticles synthesized using 1 MDa HA, referred to as PPyHA (1 m), show the most suitable properties, including small hydrodynamic size, high surface HA contents, and colloidal stability. Upon 808 nm laser irradiation, PPyHA/JQ-1 elevates the temperature above 55 °C, which is sufficient for thermal ablation and active release of JQ-1 in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Notably, the controlled release of JQ-1 substantially inhibits the expression of cancer-promoting genes. Furthermore, PPyHA/JQ-1 effectively suppresses the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and prolongs dendritic cell maturation and CD8+ T cell activation against the tumor both in vitro and in vivo. PPyHA/JQ-1 treatment simultaneously provides a significant tumor regression through photothermal therapy and immune checkpoint blockade, leading to a durable antitumor-immune response. Overall, "Three-in-one" immunotherapeutic photo-activable nanoparticles have the potential to be beneficial for a targeted combinatorial treatment approach for TNBC.
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Antígeno B7-H1 , Inmunoterapia , Nanopartículas , Factores de Transcripción , Animales , Antígeno B7-H1/metabolismo , Nanopartículas/química , Ratones , Inmunoterapia/métodos , Humanos , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Femenino , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-myc/metabolismo , Fototerapia/métodos , Ácido Hialurónico/química , Ácido Hialurónico/farmacología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/química , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Polímeros/química , Polímeros/farmacología , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas que Contienen Bromodominio , Azepinas , TriazolesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In this study, we examined the relationship of precarious employment (PE) with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among Korean women. METHODS: We included a nationwide sample of 4162 women drawn from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Women and Families, comprising 7566 observations. PE was assessed using three dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and lack of rights and protection. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the association between each element of PE and the depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation over a two-year follow-up period, represented as odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The overall prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation were 11.8 % and 1.9 %, respectively. Compared with permanent employment, fixed-term employment (OR [95 % CI]:1.29 [1.00-1.67]) or daily employment (OR [95 % CI]:1.53 [1.26-1.99]) was associated with the depressive symptoms at the follow-up. Additionally, lack of social benefits (OR [95 % CI]:1.40 [1.09-1.79]) and high perceived vulnerability (OR [95 % CI]:1.27 [1.08-1.49]) were associated with the depressive symptoms at the follow-up. Additionally, daily employment was associated with the suicidal ideation at the follow-up (OR [95 % CI]:1.94 [1.02-3.68]) and high perceived vulnerability was marginally associated with an increased suicidal ideation risk (OR [95 % CI]:1.49 [0.98-2.29]). LIMITATION: Causal effect of PE could not be asserted due to the observational nature of this study. CONCLUSIONS: PE is a social determinant of women's mental health and policy interventions are required to improve their employment conditions.
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Depresión , Ideación Suicida , Humanos , Femenino , Estudios Longitudinales , Depresión/psicología , Seguridad del Empleo , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Long working hours are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study investigated the relationship between the working hours and dietary qualities and patterns in Korean workers. METHODS: Data from 24,523 workers were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2021. The Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), which ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater adherence to Korean dietary guidelines and superior dietary quality, was used for dietary assessment. We identified dietary patterns and classified workers using latent profile analysis. Logistic regressions were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Five distinct dietary patterns emerged: healthy diet (24.8%), low-vegetable diet (14.0%), average diet (7.8%), low-fruit diet (31.4%), and poor diet (22.0%). The mean KHEI score was 60.8, with the highest score observed in the healthy diet pattern (71.3) and the lowest, in the poor diet pattern (50.0). Compared with working 35-40 h/week, working ≥55 h/week was negatively associated with KHEI scores (ß: -1.08; 95% CI: -1.67, -0.49). Those working ≥55 h/week were less likely to have a healthy diet pattern (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.91) and more likely to have a low-fruit diet (OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.20, 1.55) or poor diet pattern (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.43) compared with those working 35-40 h/week. CONCLUSION: Long working hours are associated with undesirable dietary quality and patterns. Policy interventions aimed at enhancing dietary quality are needed to alleviate the health burdens associated with long working hours.
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Dieta Saludable , Dieta , Humanos , Encuestas Nutricionales , Frutas , República de CoreaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Engagement in preventive healthcare services is crucial for preventing diseases. We explored how working hours are associated with engagement in preventive healthcare services, with a focus on gender differences. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The dependent variable was engagement in each of the five preventive healthcare services (health check-ups, influenza vaccination, and stomach, breast, and cervical cancer screenings). We estimated the prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using robust Poisson regression. RESULTS: The study analyzed 19,819 workers (9119 women). The adjusted PRs (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h per week and engagement in preventive healthcare services among men were 0.95 (0.90-1.00) for health check-ups, 0.86 (0.77-0.96) for influenza vaccination, and 0.95 (0.87-1.03) for stomach cancer screening compared to working 35-40 h per week. Among women, the adjusted PRs (95% CI) of the association between working ≥55 h per week and engagement in preventive healthcare services were 0.84 (0.78-0.91) for health check-ups, 0.82 (0.73-0.92) for influenza vaccination, and 0.88 (0.80-0.97) for stomach, 0.85 (0.78-0.94) for breast, and 0.82 (0.74-0.91) for cervical cancer screenings. CONCLUSION: Long working hours were negatively associated with engagement in preventive healthcare services, and the association was pronounced among female workers. Efforts to promote preventive healthcare participation among individuals with long working hours are necessary, and it is essential to consider the unique vulnerabilities of women when developing such policies.
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Gripe Humana , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Masculino , Humanos , Femenino , Encuestas Nutricionales , Estudios Transversales , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/prevención & control , Servicios Preventivos de Salud , Atención a la Salud , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Long working hours and overwork have recently emerged as pressing public health concerns. We explored the association between long working hours and suicidal ideation in female workers. A total of 8017 women (24,331 observations) from the fourth to eighth waves of the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families (2012-2020) were analyzed. To address the repeated measurements within each participant, we employed a generalized estimating equation to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 1.9% for those working 35-40 h/week and 4.4% for those working ≥55 h/week. Compared to individuals working 35-40 h/week, those working ≥55 h/week were more likely to experience concurrent suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]:1.85 [1.43-2.39]). The OR (95% CI) of the association between long working hours and onset of suicidal ideation in the subsequent wave was 1.69 (1.20-2.38) for ≥55 h/week. In subgroup analysis, this association was pronounced among workers with low-income levels (OR [95% CI]: 1.97 [1.29-3.02]) and blue-collar occupations (OR [95% CI]: 2.27 [1.41-3.66]). Policy efforts are required to protect the mental health of female workers exposed to long working hours.
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Ocupaciones , Ideación Suicida , Humanos , Femenino , Salud Mental , Estudios Longitudinales , República de Corea/epidemiología , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between job dissatisfaction (JD) and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among female workers. Additionally, it examined how the cumulative exposure to JD over multiple years can exacerbate the effect. We conducted our analyses on a nationwide sample of 6111 female workers from the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Family (Waves 5-7). Depressive symptoms were measured using the 10-item version of the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. JD was classified into quartiles (Q1-Q4), and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using generalised estimating equations. The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation among study participants was 13.9% and 2.4%, respectively. Our findings revealed that female workers with the highest level of JD (Q4) had a significantly greater risk of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI]: 1.61 [1.37-1.89]) and suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]: 2.08 [1.37-3.17]) after 2-year follow-up compared to those with the lowest level of JD (Q1). Consecutive exposure to JD over multiple years was also associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation after a 2-year follow-up. For instance, women exposed to JD for three consecutive waves exhibited a high risk of depressive symptoms (OR [95% CI]: 1.61 [1.33-1.95]) and suicidal ideation (OR [95% CI]: 1.67 [1.04-2.70]). JD was positively associated with depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. Our study suggests that JD is a risk factor for mental health problems in female workers.
Asunto(s)
Depresión , Ideación Suicida , Humanos , Femenino , Depresión/epidemiología , Depresión/etiología , Estudios Longitudinales , Factores de Riesgo , República de Corea/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The influx of communication media to contemporary workplaces has exposed workers to be always connected to their work. Constant connectivity to work (CCW) refers to the condition in which workers are always connected to work, even during their non-work hours, and are not detached from the work situation. We investigated the association between CCW and insomnia and the moderating effect of work engagement. METHODS: A total of 29,512 nationally representative samples of workers in Korea were used. Insomnia was assessed by the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The additive interaction between CCW and low work engagement was estimated by calculating Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI). RESULTS: Exposure to CCW was related to insomnia (OR [95% CI] 1.33 [1.22-1.46]). Additionally, a significant negative interaction between CCW and work engagement was observed. The effects of CCW were mitigated in those with high work engagement. The OR of the combined effect of CCW exposure and low work engagement was 2.52 (95% CI 2.22-2.87). RERI between exposure to CCW and low work engagement was 0.69 (95% CI 0.38-0.99), indicating that there is a supra-additive interaction. CONCLUSION: Our study found that CCW is related to an increased risk of insomnia and that high work engagement can mitigate the effect of CCW. Our study suggests that improving work engagement and disconnecting from work outside of work hours can help protect employees' sleep quality.