Epidemiology and Health

Original Articles

Performance pressure and mental health among finance workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study: Yu Min Lee, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023099. Published online November 7, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023099

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Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material: Abstract
OBJECTIVES
While issues related to mental health, including suicide, have been frequently reported among finance workers, no formal investigation has been undertaken. This study was conducted to analyze correlations between indicators of performance pressure, which is a characteristic of the finance sector, and mental health.
METHODS
An online survey was administered to 1,181 participants. Brief questionnaires were employed to ask general questions about participant characteristics, work environment, and the presence of performance pressure, suicidal thoughts/plans/attempts, depression (indicated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and anxiety (measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7). Frequency analysis, chi-square testing, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed.
RESULTS
Of the 1,181 respondents, 797 (83.5%) reported feeling pressure to perform at work, while 252 (26.4%) admitted to occasional willingness to achieve results even through illegal activities. Multivariate logarithmic regression analysis was employed to examine the correlation between performance pressure and mental health. This analysis revealed that those expressing willingness to achieve results through illegal activities exhibited higher levels of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.63; 99% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 2.55), plans (aOR, 1.75; 99% CI, 1.01 to 3.01), and attempts (aOR, 2.72; 99% CI, 1.06 to 6.98). Additionally, these individuals demonstrated higher levels of depression (aOR, 2.02; 99% CI, 1.34 to 3.06) and anxiety (aOR, 2.84; 99% CI, 1.81 to 4.46).
CONCLUSIONS
Performance pressure is prevalent within the finance industry. This pressure serves as a major source of stress for employees and is evident in 3 representative indicators of mental health: suicide, depression, and anxiety.; Summary

Korean summary
현대사회에서 많은 조직이 성과에 따른 보상과 처벌규정을 사용하여 인적자원을 관리함으로써 조직의 성장을 꾀한다. 특히 금융업의 경우 성과평가가 평가를 위한 가시적이고 단순한 지표들과 연계되면서, 근로자들은 부여된 실적만을 달성하기 위한 과도한 노력을 기울이게 된다. 이 연구를 통해 그 과정에서 개인들은 과도한 성과압박을 느끼고, 성과압박을 많이 느낄수록 다양한 업무상 정신질환(불안, 우울, 자살생각 및 시도 등)을 경험한다는 것을 보여주었다.

Key Message
Inappropriately selected performance indicators cause performance pressure, which is related to the occurrence of work-related mental disorders. This paper is meaningful in showing the current status of performance pressure in the Korean financial industry and showing the relationship between performance pressure and work-related mental health.

Long working hours and the risk of hypothyroidism in healthy Korean workers: a cohort study: Yesung Lee, Woncheol Lee, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim; Epidemiol Health. 2022;44:e2022104. Published online November 8, 2022; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022104

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1 Web of Science
1 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Long working hours have been reported to cause various health problems, but are currently practiced in many countries. Building upon a previous cross-sectional study, the authors aimed to elucidate the causal relationship between long working hours and hypothyroidism through a longitudinal study.

METHODS

Data were collected at baseline from 45,259 participants without thyroid disease and with consistent weekly working hours (36-40, 41-52, 53-60, and >60 hours) during the follow-up period. Hypothyroidism was defined using the reference limits of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels. By estimating hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the risk of incident hypothyroidism was evaluated with 36-40 hours of work per week as the reference.

RESULTS

During 138,261.7 person-years of follow-up, 2,914 participants developed hypothyroidism (incidence density, 2.11/102 person-years). The multivariable-adjusted HRs of incident hypothyroidism for 41-52 hours, 53-60 hours, and >60 hours of work per week were 1.13 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), 2.53 (95% CI, 2.17 to 2.95), and 2.57 (95% CI, 2.09 to 3.15), respectively. In dose-response analyses, long working hours had an approximately linear relationship with hypothyroidism incidence. The risk of incident hypothyroidism in those who worked 53-60 hours and >60 hours per week compared with the reference group was significantly higher among the older age group (≥36 years, stratified by median age), men, and daytime workers.

CONCLUSIONS

This large-scale cohort study demonstrated the association between long working hours and an increased risk of incident hypothyroidism with a dose-response relationship.

Summary

Korean summary
대규모 코호트연구를 통해 장시간노동을 수행한 노동자들에서 갑상선기능저하증의 위험이 높아지는 것을 확인할 수 있었다. 특히 연령, 성, 교대근무 유무에 따라 층화하여 분석한 결과에서 고연령, 남성, 교대근무를 하지 않는 노동자에서 관련성의 크기가 증가하였다.

Key Message
This large-scale cohort study (The Kangbuk Samsung Health Study), which used 45,259 participants without thyroid disease at baseline and estimated hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, demonstrated the association between long working hours and an increased risk of incident hypothyroidism with a dose-response relationship especially in older age group, men, and daytime workers.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Association between shift work and the risk of hypothyroidism in adult male workers in Korea: a cohort study
Seonghyeon Kwon, Yesung Lee, Eunhye Seo, Daehoon Kim, Jaehong Lee, Youshik Jeong, Jihoon Kim, Jinsook Jeong, Woncheol Lee
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef

Association of Subway Driver's Depressive Symptoms and Experience of Work-Related Problems: Sun-Jin Jo, Hyeon Woo Yim, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Kang Sook Lee, Jong-Ik Park, Sung Man Chang; Epidemiol Health. 2010;32:e2010010. Published online December 3, 2010; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2010010

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8 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Abstract

<sec><title>OBJECTIVES</title>Subway drivers experience various types of work-related problems during their driving, and those experiences can act as risk factors for depressive symptoms. This study was conducted to investigate the association between work-related problems and subway driver's depressive symptoms.</sec><sec><title>METHODS</title>We recruited all of the 961 current subway drivers of a subway company located in Seoul, South Korea and conducted a survey of their socio-demographic and vocational characteristics, hospital visits as an outpatient or inpatient, and work-related problem experiences during the last year. Work-related problems included an accident resulting in death or injury, a conflict with a customer, a sudden stop from an emergency bell, or a near accident. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) instrument. The survey was performed using a self-report questionnaire from April 16 to July 13, 2007. The data of 827 drivers (86.2%) were analyzed.</sec><sec><title>RESULTS</title>Experience of a conflict with a passenger (p=0.011), a sudden stop from an emergency bell (p=0.001), or a near accident (p=0.001) increased the prevalence of depressive symptoms among subway drivers. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that a sudden stop from an emergency bell increased the risk of depressive symptoms significantly (OR=2.59, p=0.026). Near accidents were marginally associated with a higher risk for depressive symptoms (OR=1.62, p=0.062).</sec><sec><title>CONCLUSION</title>The experience of a sudden stop from an emergency bell increased subway driver's depressive symptoms, and near accidents may increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Therefore, interventions for the drivers who had experienced these work-related problems are needed.</sec>

Summary

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Research on the Evaluation Method of the Railroad Drivers’ Safety Psychology
创高
Advances in Psychology.2022; 12(02): 352. CrossRef
Relationships of social support, coping styles, perceived stress, and quality of life: The difference between metro drivers and station attendants in Xi’an, China
Bo Liu, Xiaoyang Xin, Quan Xu, Yue Han, Ying Li, Xuqun You
Current Psychology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Posttraumatic stress reactions of underground drivers after suicides by jumping to arriving trains; feasibility of an early stepped care outpatient intervention
Giancarlo Giupponi, Heike Thoma, Dorian Lamis, Alberto Forte, Maurizio Pompili, Hans-Peter Kapfhammer
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation.2019; 20(5): 495. CrossRef
Factors associated with suicide ideation among subway drivers in Korea
Junsu Byun, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Hye-Eun Lee, Se-Eun Kim, Jongin Lee
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2016;[Epub] CrossRef
Sickness absence of LU train drivers after track incidents
S. Chavda
Occupational Medicine.2016; 66(7): 571. CrossRef
Systematic Review of the Impact of Suicides and Other Critical Incidents on Railway Personnel
Cécile Bardon, Brian L. Mishara
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.2015; 45(6): 720. CrossRef
The association between psychiatric disorders and work-related problems among subway drivers in Korea
Se-eun Kim, Hyoung-Ryoul Kim, Jong-Ik Park, Hae Woo Lee, Jongin Lee, Junsu Byun, Hyeon Woo Yim
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
Comments on Jo and Colleagues' Paper (2010) "Association of Subway Driver's Depressive Symptoms and Experience of Work-Related Problems"
Jae-Min Kim
Epidemiology and Health.2011; 33: e2011002. CrossRef

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