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Effect of Long Working Hours on Depression and Mental Well-Being among Employees in Shanghai: The Role of Having Leisure Hobbies

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Listed:
  • Zan Li

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Junming Dai

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Ning Wu

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Yingnan Jia

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Junling Gao

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

  • Hua Fu

    (Health Communication Institute, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China)

Abstract

Our aim is to examine the associations between long working hours and depression and mental well-being among the working population in Shanghai, as well as to identify the impact of having hobbies on these relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Shanghai, with depression assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and mental well-being assessed by the World Health Organization five-item Well-Being Index (WHO-5) scale. The phenomenon of long working hours (69.3%) was quite common among employees in Shanghai, and the rate of working over 60 h was 19.3%. Those who worked over 60 h had the highest prevalence of poorer mental health compared with individuals working ≤40 h per week. After adjustment in the logistic regression model, those who reported weekly working time over 60 h were 1.40 (95%CI: 1.03–1.90) and 1.66 (95%CI: 1.26–2.18) times more likely to have depression and poor mental well-being (PMWB), respectively. Adjusted ORs for having hobbies were 0.78 (95%CI: 0.62–0.97) and 0.62 (95%CI: 0.51–0.75), respectively. Meanwhile, having hobbies could significantly lower the mean score on the PHQ-9 and elevate the mean score on the WHO-5 in each working time group, with no interaction effect. Long working hours could have a significantly negative impact on workers’ psychological health. Importantly, having hobbies in their daily lives might help to mitigate the adverse effects of long working hours on workers’ depression and mental well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Zan Li & Junming Dai & Ning Wu & Yingnan Jia & Junling Gao & Hua Fu, 2019. "Effect of Long Working Hours on Depression and Mental Well-Being among Employees in Shanghai: The Role of Having Leisure Hobbies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:24:p:4980-:d:295310
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nie, Peng & Otterbach, Steffen & Sousa-Poza, Alfonso, 2015. "Long work hours and health in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 212-229.
    2. Virtanen, Marianna & Jokela, Markus & Nyberg, Solja T & Madsen, Ida E H & Lallukka, Tea & Ahola, Kirsi & Alfredsson, Lars & Batty, G David & Bjorner, Jakob B & Borritz, Marianne & Burr, Hermann & Casi, 2015. "Long Working Hours and Alcohol Use: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Published Studies and Unpublished Individual Participant Data," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 350, pages 1-14.
    3. Jin-Ha Yoon & Pil Kyun Jung & Jaehoon Roh & Hongdeok Seok & Jong-Uk Won, 2015. "Relationship between Long Working Hours and Suicidal Thoughts: Nationwide Data from the 4th and 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-12, June.
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    1. Min-Gwan Shin & Yoon-Ji Kim & Tae-Kyoung Kim & Dongmug Kang, 2021. "Effects of Long Working Hours and Night Work on Subjective Well-Being Depending on Work Creativity and Task Variety, and Occupation: The Role of Working-Time Mismatch, Variability, Shift Work, and Aut," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-19, June.
    2. Shiyou Wu & Lac Ta & Jaime Vieira & Kendall Schwartz & Joshua Perez & Justin Zeien & Danyi Li & Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, 2024. "Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression among Homeless Young Adults: A Social Determinants of Health Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(1), pages 1-15, January.

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