A recent study has found that working long hours is linked to depression in women. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles and published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

The Study

The study looked at data from the Understanding Society survey, which is a longitudinal study of households in the United Kingdom.

The researchers focused on data from approximately 7,500 individuals who were between the ages of 40 and 70 and who were currently employed.

The study found that women who worked more than 55 hours per week in paid employment were 7.3 percentage points more likely to experience depressive symptoms than women who worked 35-40 hours per week. This relationship was not observed for men.

Possible Explanations

There are several possible explanations for the link between long working hours and depression in women.

One possible explanation is that women who work long hours may have less time to engage in self-care activities such as exercise or socializing, which can help reduce stress and improve mental health.

Additionally, women who work long hours may also experience work-family conflict, which can further contribute to stress and mental health problems.

Women are still more likely than men to be primary caregivers for children and other family members, and the demands of paid employment may clash with these caregiving responsibilities.

Implications

The findings of this study have important implications for employers and policymakers. Employers should consider implementing policies that support work-life balance and allow employees to work flexible schedules or reduce their hours if necessary.

Policymakers should also consider implementing policies that support work-family balance, such as paid parental leave or affordable childcare.