Long hours at work double depression risk

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Courier Mail, 7 Oct 2011
WHITE-collar workers who spent 11 hours or more at work each day faced double the risk of depression as those who worked seven to eight hours a day, a new British study has revealed.
The research followed more than 2100 civil servants - who had no previous depressive episodes or psychological risk factors - for an average of nearly six years.

Those who worked long days were 2.3 to 2.5 times more likely to have a major depressive episode, said the study led by Marianna Virtanen of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College London.

The link remained the same even when researchers made adjustments for factors such as alcohol and drug use, social support or lack thereof, and strain at work.

Still the total number of depressive cases was only 66, or a rate of 3.1 per cent, less common than the 5 per cent rate seen in the general population.

"Although occasionally working overtime may have benefits for the individual and society, it is important to recognize that working excessive hours is also associated with an increased risk of major depression," said Virtanen.

The study did not draw conclusions about why the link exists, but said it could be related to factors that were not studied - such as work-family conflicts, prolonged increase in stress hormone levels and difficulty unwinding after work.

Also, since the study was limited to British civil servants, a larger population sample would be needed to determine if the link exists among blue collar workers or private sector employees, its authors said



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/worklife/long-hours-at-work-doubles-depression-risk-study/story-e6frfm9r-1226254031749#ixzz1kWo7d54x