A file photo of shift workers at an auto assembly line at Hyundai Motor Co. in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Shift workers suffering from sleep deprivation have a far higher chance of suffering from depression than day workers, a study showed Sunday.
A research team from the Korean Public Health Association analyzed the answers of 13,191 workers over 19 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.
Of the total, 601 or 4.36 percent were classified as being depressed. Shift workers suffering from sleep deprivation turned out to be about 2.3 times more likely to suffer from depression than day workers with adequate sleep.
In more detail by age and work type, the share of those who felt a sense of depression among the shift workers in their 30s suffering from a lack of sleep was about 3.9 times higher than that of day workers in their 30s who had adequate sleep.
When it comes to the day workers in their 30s and 40s, the share of those who felt a sense of depression among those who were suffering from a lack of sleep was about 3.7 and 3.6 times higher than that of those who had adequate sleep.
For those in their 50s, the depression rate of the day workers and shift workers both with lack of sleep was about 2.3 and 3.9 times higher than the day workers with adequate sleep.
In contrast, for those in their 20s, sleep and work type didn’t significantly impact the risk of depression.
“For middle-aged workers who have the responsibility of supporting their family while maintaining economic activities, shift work and a lack of sleep serve as a cause of stress,” the research team said.
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
