THE EFFECTS OF HOURS OF WORK ON HEALTH - A METAANALYTIC REVIEW

A quantitative and qualitative review of existing literature on workin g hours and health was carried out. Meta-analyses were performed on 21 study samples. Results indicated small, hut significant positive mean correlations between overall health symptoms, physiological and psych ological health symptoms, and hours of work. Qualitative analysis of 1 2 other studies supported these findings of a positive relationship be tween hours of work and ill-health. Different factors which may obscur e the relationship between health and hours of work are discussed, tog ether with other moderating influences. Taking these into account it i s proposed that the results of the meta-analyses together with the qua litative analysis offer support for a link between hours of work and i ll-health.