Gender differences in the association between long working hours and the onset of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older workers in Korea: A population-based longitudinal study (2006-2022).

Background: Korean society is projected to undergo a rapid aging of its workforce. We explored gender differences in the association between working hours and the onset of depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older workers.

Study Design: This study included workers aged ≥45 years from a nationwide panel study with biennial follow-ups (n = 4941, observations = 18,531).

Association of low employment quality with cigarette smoking, smoking initiation, and smoking cessation: A 16-year longitudinal study in South Korea.

This study explored the association between multidimensional aspects of employment quality and smoking habits. This study included the wage workers in the Korean Labour and Income Panel Study, 2005-2021 (n = 16,188; observations = 92,954). The employment quality was constructed using a multidimensional approach encompassing three dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and a lack of rights and protection.

Hazardous alcohol use is associated with food insecurity in adults living alone: Findings from a nationwide study in Korea.

Food insecurity has emerged as a major public health issue. This cross-sectional study explored the association between hazardous alcohol use and food insecurity and how this association varies according to household composition. A nationally representative sample of 31,971 adults from the two separate wave of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys was analyzed.

Association of food insecurity with the use of tobacco products and urine cotinine-measured smoking intensity: evidence from a population-based study in South Korea, 2019-2021.

Introduction: This study explored the association between food insecurity and tobacco product use and urine cotinine-measured smoking intensity.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 13 705 adults representative of the Korean population. The 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module was administered to the primary food managers in households with the scores applied to household members.

Association between husband's participation in household work and the onset of depressive symptoms in married women: A population-based longitudinal study in South Korea.

An unequal distribution of household work by gender is prevalent. This study explored the association between husbands' participation in household work and the onset of depressive symptoms among married Korean women. A nationwide sample of 7024 married women was repeatedly followed up at 2-year intervals from 2014 to 2022 (20,343 observations).

Neighborhood Safety Concerns and the Onset of Depressive Symptoms Among Women: A Population-based Prospective Cohort Study in South Korea.

Neighborhood safety is crucial for the well-being of residents; however, longitudinal evidence is scarce. This study explored the association between neighborhood safety concerns and depressive symptoms among women. A nationally representative sample of 10,008 women was surveyed in 2016.

Long working hours and preventive oral health behaviors: a nationwide study in Korea (2007-2021).

Background: This study explored the association between working hours and preventive oral health behaviors.

Methods: In total, 48,599 workers (22,992 females) were included from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2021). Weekly working hours were self-reported.

Occupation classification model based on DistilKoBERT: using the 5th and 6th Korean Working Condition Surveys.

Background: Accurate occupation classification is essential in various fields, including policy development and epidemiological studies. This study aims to develop an occupation classification model based on DistilKoBERT.

Methods: This study used data from the 5th and 6th Korean Working Conditions Surveys conducted in 2017 and 2020, respectively.

Interaction between old age and precarious employment on poor mental well-being in workers: Evidence from a nationally representative sample in Korea.

Objective: This study examined the relationship between precarious employment (PE) and mental well-being, focusing on age-specific interactions.

Methods: Nationally representative Korean workers (N = 29,961) were surveyed between 2020 and 2021 to collect data on multidimensional PE (categorized as low, moderate, or high) and the WHO-5 well-being index. Workers' ages were classified as young (<35 years), middle-aged (35-54 years), and older (≥55 years).

Longitudinal Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms and Their Associations With Risks of Underweight and Obesity in Women: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study in Korea.

We explored depressive symptom trajectories and their associations with underweight and obesity in Korean women. This prospective cohort study involved 7,691 women enrolled in the Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families, with a follow-up period spanning from 2014 to 2020. Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the 10-item version of the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

Sex differences in the association between social jetlag and hazardous alcohol consumption in Korean workers: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background: Social jetlag, the misalignment between biological and social rhythms, can lead to adverse health outcomes. This study explored the association between social jetlag and hazardous alcohol consumption, as well as the sex differences in this association.

Methods: This study included a nationally representative sample of Korean workers consisting of 11,462 individuals (5479 women).

Association between Dietary Quality and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Korean Adults: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study Using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (2013-2021).

This study explored the relationship between the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This cross-sectional study included 34,174 Korean adults. The KHEI was composed of three subcomponents (adequacy, moderation, and energy balance) and calculated based on a 24 h dietary recall.

Temporary Employment Is Associated with Poor Dietary Quality in Middle-Aged Workers in Korea: A Nationwide Study Based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index, 2013-2021.

Temporary employment is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases and mortality. This study explored the association between temporary employment and dietary quality in middle-aged workers. This cross-sectional study included a nationwide sample of middle-aged Korean workers (n = 6467).

Long Working Hours, Work-life Imbalance, and Poor Mental Health: A Cross-sectional Mediation Analysis Based on the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey, 2020-2021.

Background: There has been growing concern about the negative mental health impact of long working hours and overwork. Our study examined how work-life imbalance (WLI) could be a mediator between working hours and poor mental well-being.

Methods: We included 34,968 individuals from a nationwide cross-sectional survey in Korea.

Association between precarious employment and the onset of depressive symptoms in men and women: a 13-year longitudinal analysis in Korea (2009-2022).

Aims: Increasing social concern surrounds the potential adverse health effects of precarious employment (PE). In this study, we explored the association between PE and the onset of depressive symptoms.

Methods: A total of 11,555 Korean waged workers (5700 females) contributed 62,217 observations from 2009 to 2022.

Association between sickness presenteeism and depressive symptoms: a cross-sectional study using the 6th Korean working conditions survey.

Purpose: This study aimed to reveal the relationship of the days of experiencing sickness presentism and depressive symptoms among Korean workers. Sickness presenteeism which defined as the act of going to work despite being feeling unhealthy triggers various adverse effects on mental health, including increased risks of depression. Furthermore, Sickness presenteeism is a major social issue causing substantial socioeconomic costs.

Relationship between long working hours and smoking behaviors: Evidence from population-based cohort studies in Korea.

Objectives: Long working hours and overwork are growing public health concerns in the Western-Pacific region. We explored the relationship between working hours and smoking behaviors of Korean workers.

Methods: This study included 284 782 observations (50 508 workers) from four nationwide cohort studies in Korea.

Association Between Temporary Employment and Current Smoking and Change in Smoking Behaviors: A Prospective Cohort Study From South Korea (2009-2018).

Background: Previous studies have suggested that employment insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes. We explored the association between temporary employment and smoking behaviors.

Methods: We analyzed 11,795 workers (51,867 observations) from the Korea Health Panel Study (2009-2018).

Association between long working hours and diet quality and patterns: A latent profile analysis of a nationally representative sample of Korean workers.

Background: Long working hours are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This study investigated the relationship between the working hours and dietary qualities and patterns in Korean workers.

Methods: Data from 24,523 workers were extracted from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2021.

Characteristics and Socio-Demographic Distribution of Precarious Employment Among Korean Wage Workers: A Proposition of Multidimensional Approach Using a Summative Score.

Introduction: There is a growing global interest in the issue of precarious employment. We aimed to analyze the characteristics and socio-demographic distribution of precarious employment using a summative score approach.

Methods: To operationalize precarious employment, we utilized data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey and focused on three distinct dimensions: employment insecurity, income inadequacy, and a lack of rights and protections.

Multidimensional typologies of precarious employment and their relationships with mental well-being in Korean wageworkers: A latent class analysis based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey (2020-2021).

Background: Precarious employment (PE) has been conceptualized as having a multidimensional nature, and research addressing this topic in Asian countries is scarce. This study examined the typologies of PE and their relationships with mental health among Korean workers.

Methods: From October 2020 to April 2021, the Korean Working Conditions Survey was conducted on Korean wageworkers (weighted N = 38,347), representative of the nation.

Changes in total volatile organic compound concentration in Seoul subway stations before (2019) and after (2021) the COVID-19 outbreak.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major air pollutants often designated as specific hazardous or toxic. This study analyzed the trends in concentration changes and influencing factors of VOCs in underground subway stations in the Seoul Metro before (2019) and after (2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 506 samples were collected from 253 stations on lines 1-8 between May 2019 and September 2021.

Effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure on mitochondrial DNA copy number.

Airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure can adversely affect human health by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing oxidative stress, which causes changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), a key indicator of mitochondrial damage and dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the effects of atmospheric benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) exposure on mtDNAcn in humans. One hundred and eight adults living in Cheongju, South Korea, were included in this study.