Ann Occup Environ Med.  2019 ;31(1):e13. 10.35371/aoem.2019.31.e13.

The association between dependent self-employment and self-reported depression/anxiety and sleep disorder in South Korea

• Won G
• Park JB
• Lee KJ
• Ha R
• Lee S
• Jeong I

• KMID: 2466057
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2019.31.e13

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Dependent self-employment; Mental health problems; Korean workers; Korean working condition survey

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Employment
Korea*
Logistic Models
Mental Health
Odds Ratio
Sleep Wake Disorders*