The relationship between working hours and lifestyle behaviors: Evidence from a population-based panel study in Korea

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between working hours and lifestyle behaviors using data from a large nationally representative panel survey. Methods: We used the Korea Health Panel Study (KHPS) data from 2011 to 2014. Weekly working hours and lifestyle risk factors were assessed by questionnaires. Comparing to the reference group, the weekly working hours were 40 h per week, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for smoking status, alcohol consumption status, and regular exercise status of other weekly working hours groups (<40, 40, 41–52, and >52) were calculated, using generalized estimating equation models considering repeated measures. Results: Our findings clearly showed a relationship between long working hours and unhealthy lifestyles, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep. Additionally, weekly working hours are positively associated with the amount of smoking and drinking, and inversely associated with sleep duration among those who worked 40 h or more per week. Conclusion: Long working hours are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep.