Relationship of spouses' weekly working hours and sleep problems in Korean wage workers: the 5th Korean working conditions survey

Background: Sleep disorders are common and serious problems for mental health. This study investigated the relationship between spouses' weekly working hours (SWWH) and sleep problems by using the data from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Methods: Data from 14,921 wage workers were used in the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. General and occupational characteristics, sleep problems are included in the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used after adjustment for general and occupational characteristics to find the relationship between SWWH and sleep problems.

Results: Compared to those whose spouses worked less than 40 hours per week, risk of trouble falling asleep, waking up repeatedly while sleeping, and waking up with a feeling of exhaustion and fatigue was significantly higher as SWWH increase among those whose spouses worked 53 or more hours per week (odds ratio [OR]: 1.40, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.70; OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.23-1.82; OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.24-1.83).

Conclusions: SWWH were related to sleep problems among Korean wage workers.