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Cited by 614Workplace Health and Well-beingSleep and Work-Related FatigueWorkaholism, burnout, and well-being

Long workhours and health

Open access
van der Hulst, Monique·2003·Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
DOI 10.5271/sjweh.720
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Abstract

This paper summarizes the associations between long workhours and health, with special attention for the physiological recovery and behavioral life-style mechanisms that may explain the relationship. The evidence for these mechanisms has not been systematically reviewed earlier. A total of 27 recent empirical studies met the selection criteria. They showed that long workhours are associated with adverse health as measured by several indicators (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, disability retirement, subjectively reported physical health, subjective fatigue). Furthermore, some evidence exists for an association between long workhours and physiological changes (cardiovascular and immunologic parameters) and changes in health-related behavior (reduced sleep hours). Support for the physiological recovery mechanism seems stronger than support for the behavioral life-style mechanism. However, the evidence is inconclusive because many studies did not control for potential confounders. Due to the gaps in the current evidence and the methodological shortcomings of the studies in the review, further research is needed.

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  • Previous reviews on long working hours and mental health have not addressed whether there are systematic differences in the association between long working hours and mental health between countries and employee groups.

    “These issues have not been addressed in previous reviews on long working hours and mental health.”

    From Long working hours and depressive symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data (2018) · cites this paper as [17]

    In “Gaps in the current literature and recommendations for future research” (page not provided), van der Hulst says that studies in the review rarely examined factors that might change the relationship between long workhours and health. This supports the general point that differences across groups were underexamined, but the passage does not specifically say that previous reviews failed to address differences between countries or employee groups in the association with mental health. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Although several reviews of this field exist, the few systematic quantifications of the evidence have been based on published cross-sectional or published longitudinal studies.

    “However, although several reviews of this field exist (5, 9-24), the few systematic quantifications of the evidence have been based on published cross-sectional (18, 19, 25) or published longitudinal studies ( 26).”

    From Long working hours and depressive symptoms: systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies and unpublished individual participant data (2018) · cites this paper as [17]

    The Reviews section identifies this paper as a systematic narrative review, supporting its use as an example of an existing review. The Gaps section says it did not take effect sizes into account, so it does not support treating this paper as a systematic quantification of evidence based on published cross-sectional or longitudinal studies. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Research works printed but not linked: 60

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
van der Hulst, M.
Venue
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
Publisher
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
Published
2003-06
Volume
29
Issue
3
Pages
171-188
ISSN
  • 0355-3140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1795-990X
DOI
10.5271/sjweh.720
OpenAlex
W75082882
Cited by
614
References
3
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 44
FWCI
5.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Workaholism, burnout, and well-being
Keywords
long working hours, occupational health, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, disability retirement, subjective fatigue, sleep duration, physiological recovery, immune function, health behavior, confounding
MeSH terms
Cardiovascular Diseases, Humans, Occupational Diseases, Risk Factors, Sleep Deprivation, Stress, Psychological, Work Schedule Tolerance, Workload

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