The impact of shift and night work on health related quality of life of working women: findings from the Korea Health Panel

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 162
• Main Authors: Kim, Woorim, Kim, Tae Hyun, Lee, Tae-Hoon, Choi, Jae Woo, Park, Eun-Cheol
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 28.11.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health; Health aspects; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Marital Status; Middle Aged; Night work; Occupational Health - statistics & numerical data; Physiological aspects; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Republic of Korea; Women, Working - psychology; Women, Working - statistics & numerical data; Work Schedule Tolerance - psychology; Working women; South Korea; Marital status; Night shift; Economically active women; Rotating shift; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/s12955-016-0564-x

Night and shift work status has been associated with health related quality of life (HRQoL) in economically active women. This study aimed to investigate the association between night or shift work status and HRQoL of economically active women and to further analyze how marital status interplays in the objected relationship. Data were from the Korea Health Panel, 2011 to 2013. A total of 2238 working women were included for analysis. Work status was categorized into day work, night work, and rotating shift work and its association with HRQoL, measured using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) index, was investigated using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. Compared to the day work reference group, the night work group (β: -0.9757, P = 0.0202) and the rotating shift work group (β: -0.7947, P = 0.0363) showed decreases in EQ-5D scores. This trend was maintained regardless of marital status, although decreases in health related quality of life were particularly pronounced among night shift workers with a spouse. Night and rotating shift work status was associated with HRQoL of economically active women as individuals working night and rotating shifts showed decreases in EQ-5D scores compared to individuals working day shifts. The findings of this study signify the importance of monitoring the HRQoL status of women working night and rotating shifts as these individuals may be comparatively vulnerable to reduced HRQoL.