Educational disparities in labor market participation among middle-aged Koreans with chronic diseases: evidence from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment.

Background: As South Korea experiences rapid population aging, preventing early retirement has become a critical concern. Ill health contributes to early retirement, and educational level moderates this relationship. Although well-studied in Europe, it remains less explored in Northeast Asia, where labor markets and educational attainment differ significantly.

Association between psychosocial safety climate and depression risk among Korean workers.

Objectives: Psychosocial safety climate (PSC) reflects an organization's commitment to safeguarding workers' psychological health and safety. While international evidence links low PSC to poor mental health outcomes, its association with depression has not been well established in Korea. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PSC and depression among Korean workers, utilizing a large-scale, population-based survey.

Comparing the Health Impacts of Fixed Night and Rotating Shift Work: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

Despite abundant research on the health risks of shift work, studies directly comparing fixed night work and rotating-shift work are relatively rare. This study systematically reviewed and synthesised recent meta-analytic findings to assess how fixed night work and rotating-shift work influence health outcomes. An umbrella review of meta-analyses was conducted, including studies published until December 2024 from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science.

Occupational Risk Factors for Kidney Disease: A Comprehensive Review.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global health concern, with traditional risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension well established. However, emerging evidence suggests that occupational exposures could play a significant role in CKD development. This review comprehensively summarizes the current evidence concerning occupational risk factors contributing to kidney disease, including exposure to heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium), organic solvents (trichloroethylene, methanol, ethylene glycol), heat stress, and job-related stress factors (occupational stress, long working hours, shift work).

Educational and gender disparities in healthy working life expectancy among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea.

Objectives: Understanding healthy working life expectancy (HWLE) is critical in ageing societies to promote both extended workforce participation and well-being. This study quantifies WLE and HWLE among middle-aged and older adults in Korea, stratified by gender and education.

Methods: We used data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (waves 1-9, 2006-2022) to estimate WLE and HWLE at age 50 using a discrete-time 5-state Markov model.

Associations of self-rated health, depression, and work ability with employee control over working time.

Objectives: Work-time control (WTC), defined as employees' ability to influence their work schedules, is a crucial determinant of work-life balance and well-being. This study aims to evaluate the associations between WTC and health-related outcomes among Korean workers and examine potential effect modifications by working hours and shift work status.

Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2024 wave of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study, a nationwide panel study of workers aged 19 years to 70 years (n=5,195).

Status of Psychosocial Safety Climate in the Korean Workforce: A Nationwide Survey.

This study investigated status of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) among Korean workers. Data were collected from 5,064 wage earners as part of the 4th wave of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study. PSC was measured using the validated 4-item PSC questionnaire.

The mediating role of burnout in the association between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss.

Occupational stress and burnout are increasingly recognized as major contributors to reduced productivity in modern workplaces. In this study, we explored the association between occupational stress and health-related productivity loss through the mediating effect of burnout syndrome in Korean workers. This study was conducted using a sample of 5,050 participants from 5,553 randomly selected individuals, after excluding those with missing data.

Work ability and health-related productivity loss by chronotype: Results from population-based panel study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between chronotype and two key occupational health outcomes-work ability and health-related productivity loss-in the general working population of Korea. The research further sought to identify subgroup variations by demographic and occupational factors.

Methods: Data were derived from the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS), a nationwide panel study conducted between 2022 and 2024.

The Impact of Comorbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea (COMISA) on Work Ability: Results From Population-Based Panel Data in Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA) on work ability (WA) in the Korean workforce using data from a nationwide panel study. Data were derived from the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS), conducted from 2022 to 2024. Participants included 10,086 workers aged 19-70 years, with repeated measures collected across three survey waves.

Management and Collection of Occupational Data for Health (ODH) in National Public Health Statistics: Evaluation and Recommendations for Korea.

Background: The aims of this study are to examine how occupation-related data and information for health (ODH) are collected and managed from census-based surveys and potential occupational illness and injuries (POI) statistics, and to propose a national strategy for the systematic collection, analysis, and management of ODH by building on the Korean Standard Classification of Occupation (KSCO) and using a job exposure matrix (JEM).

Methods: The status of the collection and management of ODH registered as national statistics, drawn not only from the census-based general population and workforce, but also from POIS statistics was reviewed and evaluated.

Results: ODH from the Republic of Korea's Census of Population and Labor Force are collected and classified according to the KSCO.

Association between work stress and sleep disturbances: the mediating role of pre-sleep arousal symptoms.

This study investigated the association between work stress and sleep disturbance among Korean workers, focusing on the mediating effects of somatic and cognitive pre-sleep arousal symptoms. Data were derived from the "Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS)," involving 4,393 participants. Work stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale, and sleep disturbances were measured using the Insomnia Severity Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Physical Demands at Work Associated With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Women: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between physical demands at work and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women and their effects on quality of life (QOL) and productivity.

Methods: An online survey was conducted to collect data on the demographic characteristics, physical demands at work, and LUTS of Korean women. Occupational physical activity, sitting time, musculoskeletal risk tasks, and heavy lifting were assessed as physical demands at work.

Paradox of long working hours: how income levels and satisfaction modify health outcomes.

This study investigates how household income levels and satisfaction with income impact the relationship between long working hours and self-rated health (SRH) among Korean workers. We analysed data from the Korean Labour & Income Panel Study spanning 2018 to 2022, including 8,954 to 10,079 wage workers annually. Weekly working hours and SRH were the primary variables, with equivalized household income levels classified into quartiles.

Data profile: Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS).

The Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS) was launched in 2022 as a longitudinal panel study to examine the interactions between work conditions, sleep health, and labour market performance among the Korean workforce. Baseline data were collected from 5,517 participants aged 19 to 70, encompassing diverse occupations. Follow-up surveys occur biannually, accommodating seasonal variations in sleep and health dynamics.

Association of workplace toilet access with urinary tract symptoms and productivity loss among female workers.

This study investigated workplace toilet access related to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among women in the Korean workforce. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine demographic characteristics, occupational risk factors, and urinary tract symptoms among employed Korean women. Occupational risk factors included two survey questions about access to toilets at work.

Occupational Factors Influencing Turnover Intention in Working Women With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the occupational factors that influence turnover intention among working women with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods: This cross-sectional study targeted 410 working women with LUTS from a 2022 survey. Occupational characteristics, including working hours, shift work, bathroom accessibility, sitting time, musculoskeletal strain, job stress, and emotional labor, were assessed through a structured self-reported questionnaire using validated tools.

Occupational Risk Factors for Skin Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Public health and clinical medicine should identify and characterize modifiable risk factors for skin cancer in order to facilitate primary prevention. In existing literature, the impact of occupational exposure on skin cancer, including malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, has been extensively studied. This review summarizes the available epidemiological evidence on the significance of occupational risk factors and occupations associated with a higher risk in skin cancer.

Psychosocial risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms among working women.

Objectives: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are prevalent among women, affecting not only their physical well-being but also their quality of working life. This study aimed to assess the relationship between psychosocial factors at work and LUTS among working women. Additionally, we sought to investigate whether women with psychosocial risk factors at work reported reduced quality of life (QOL) and a higher degree of productivity loss from absenteeism and presenteeism.

Association between the safety climate and occupational injury in the Korean working population: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Preventing occupational injuries remains a significant challenge in Korea. A positive safety climate can contribute to reducing workplace injuries. However, the impact of safety climate on preventing occupational injuries among the Korean workforce has not been adequately explored.

The association of emotional labor and workplace violence with health-related productivity loss.

Objectives: This study explored the association of emotional labor and workplace violence with health-related productivity loss (HRPL).

Methods: We used the initial dataset from a survey known as the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study, an ongoing nationwide panel study initiated in 2022. To assess emotional labor, the study included 2386 workers who worked in customer service.

Association Between Lifestyle Behavior and Health-Related Productivity Loss Among Korean Employees.

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with individual lifestyle influencing productivity reduction.

Methods: Data were collected using a Web-based questionnaire from January 6, 2020, to February 18, 2020. The study included 3890 wage workers across South Korea.

Association between marginal part-time work and depressive symptoms: results from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey and the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey.

Objectives: Marginal part-time workers, working less than 15 hours per week, are a vulnerable working population. We investigated the association between marginal part-time work and depressive symptoms in Korea and European countries to suggest policy implications.

Methods: This study used data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) from 2020 to 2021 and European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS) in 2021.

Exploring the impact of age and socioeconomic factors on health-related unemployment using propensity score matching: results from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-2017).

Background: Previous reports showed that age and socioeconomic factors mediated health-related unemployment. However, those studies had limitations controlling for confounding factors. This study examines age and socioeconomic factors contributing to health-related unemployment using propensity score matching (PSM) to control for various confounding variables.