The duration of work has an impact on women’s health, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Weeks of more than 60 hours of work and over several decades multiply by 3 the risk of diabetescancer, heart disease and evenarthritis for women. And this risk exists from 40 hours per week.
Researchers from the University of Ohio in the United States conducted a study with 7,500 participants, men and women, born between 1957 and 1964 and they assessed whether there was a link between the incidence of serious diseases and chronicles and the number of hours worked over a period of 32 years.
The volunteers self-declared the weekly duration of their work over 32 years. And scientists have linked this working time to the incidence of 8 chronic diseases. The study found that a minority of participants worked 40 hours or less per week and more than 60 hours (3%). More than half (56%) between 41 and 50 hours, and 13%: 51-60 hours.
The duration of work does not have the same consequences on the health of women and men
The findings of the study showed that there was a strong association in women between working time and heart diseasethe CancerI’arthritisand diabetes. On the other hand, it was not established for men, except for thearthritis.
Scientists have even found that men who work 41 to 50 hours per week have a lower risk of cardiac diseaselung disease and depression than those who work less than 40 hours a week.
“Women tend to take on all the responsibility for the family and have to deal with more pressure and stress than men when they have to work, in addition, long hours,” explains Dr. Allard Dembe, Professor of Health Services Management. “And to this length of the day, is added, in general, a job-related satisfaction, less among women, who have to reconcile work and family obligations”. It is therefore a new call for more flexibility to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, health costs and increase both well-being and productivity.
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