Ann Occup Environ Med.  2025 Feb;37(1):e3. 10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e3.

Data profile: Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS)

• Cho SS
• Min J
• Ko H
• Kang MY

• KMID: 2565987
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2025.37.e3

Abstract

The Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS) was launched in 2022 as a longitudinal panel study to examine the interactions between work conditions, sleep health, and labour market performance among the Korean workforce. Baseline data were collected from 5,517 participants aged 19 to 70, encompassing diverse occupations. Follow-up surveys occur biannually, accommodating seasonal variations in sleep and health dynamics. To ensure stability, refreshment samples were integrated in later waves, maintaining a cohort size of 5,783 participants in wave 5. Key data include socio-demographics, employment characteristics, sleep patterns, health outcomes, and workplace performance. Early findings highlight critical associations, such as the adverse effects of occupational physical activity on productivity, the impact of emotional labour on health-related productivity loss, and the significance of sleep disruptions on mental health. The cohort’s design enables detailed analyses of longitudinal and cross-sectional trends, offering insights into how changing work environments influence health and productivity. The KWSHS could serve as a vital resource for evidence-based interventions aimed at improving occupational health and productivity in Korea's evolving labour landscape. Data access is available through the study’s principal investigator upon request.

Keyword

Occupational health; Sleep disorders; Working conditions; Health-related productivity loss; Work ability