Ann Occup Environ Med.  2023 Jul;35(1):e21. 10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e21.

Association between irregular working hours and work-related musculoskeletal pain: results from the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey

• Yang M
• Myong JP
• Lee J
• Park MY
• Kang MY

• KMID: 2567237
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2023.35.e21

Abstract

Recently, irregular working hours have become controversial issues in Korea. The health impact of irregular working hours on the work-related musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is scarcely researched before. We sought to investigate the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP among South Korean workers.

This study used data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey in 2020. The prevalence of work-related MSP was analyzed using the χ² test. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between irregular working hours and work-related MSP. We conducted stratified analysis by gender, weekly working hours, and workers’ control over their working hours. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of work-related MSP for irregular working hours combined with weekly working hours.

The OR for work-related MSP was significantly higher in the population with irregular working hours than in the population with regular working hours (OR: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–1.58). Irregular and long (> 52 hours/week) working hours have the highest risk of work-related MSP in both genders (in men, OR: 3.48 [95% CI: 2.53–4.78]; in women, OR: 2.41 [95% CI: 1.46–4.00]).

Irregular working hours were associated with work-related MSP in Korea. The association was magnified with long working hours. Reform of the Korean Labor Standards Act leading to increase irregular working hours may induce adverse health outcome.

Keyword

Irregular working hours; Musculoskeletal pain; Long working hour