Extra Hours At Office Tied To Depression

Posted by Christina Crease

at June 27, 2008

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As per recent studies, working for long hours and straining yourself at office may put you at a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression.

Previous studies have liked tension and pressure at work to weariness and other lifestyle diseases. Only few have evaluated the relation of working hours to anxiety and depression.

Working long hours in office may increases the level of anxiety and depression. Norwegian researchers compared 1,350 overtime workers to 9,000 with normal work hours.

As per survey report, men who worked the most overtime i.e. nine to 60 hours a week showed the greatest signs of anxiety and depression. While these men were at highest risk, even moderate overtime work appeared to be at a risk of mental distress.

The scores showed that possible depression increased from about nine percent for men with normal work hours to 12.5 percent for those who worked overtime. In women its less, the rate of possible depression increased from seven to eleven percent.

The researchers cautioned people from overstraining themselves at work. What causes working long hours to increase anxiety and depression was not explored in the study.

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