Psychological Well-being Interactively Affected by Long Working Hours and Caregiving Activities

Background: Long working hours and caregiving responsibilities are prevalent in many societies. These demands can lead to stress and adverse mental health outcomes. This study examines the associations of long working hours and family caregiving on psychological well-being and their interactions among South Korean wage workers. Methods: Using data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey, this cross-sectional study involved 33,063 participants. Long working hours were categorized as 40 and 52 hours a week, and caregiving was assessed through self-reports of non-work-related caregiving activities. The World Health Organization Well-Being Index was used to measure psychological well-being, with Poisson regression models analyzing the associations and interactions between working hours, caregiving activities, and psychological well-being. Results: The prevalence of low psychological well-being was significantly higher among individuals with both long working hours and caregiving responsibilities than among those with either or neither stressor (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.81; 95% confidence interval: 1.42–2.31, multiplicative scale = 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.73). Conclusion: This study highlights the significant mental health implications of combining long working hours with caregiving responsibilities in the Republic of Korea. The synergistic interaction between these factors suggests that interventions and policies aimed at reducing work-related stress and supporting caregivers could have substantial benefits for mental health.