Overtime and mental health

via Mental Health Update by John Gale on 18 June

A Norwegian study of over 10,000 people has found that those who work more overtime are more at risk of anxiety and depression. The study compared those people who worked 40 hours per week or less with those who worked between 41 and 100 hours. Rates of depression increased from 9% in men who worked normal hours to 12.5% in those who worked longer while for women there was an increase from 7% to 11%. In both sexes rates of anxiety and depression were higher among workers who were less skilled and had lower incomes. The relationship was strongest among men who worked the most overtime (49-100 hours). People who worked such long hours were more likely to be engaged in heavy manual labour and shift work and to have lower levels of skills and education.

More information about this research

Hazel's comment:
I'm not entirely convinced by the correlation that this research indicates between long hours and mental strain. The increases are not vast and the fact that the greatest strain is felt by people on low incomes could indicate that it isn't the long hours that is causing the problems but the low pay which necessitates the long hours.