Search Results (54)

Organizational performance can be enhanced by adopting sustainable work policies. This study examined the relationship between psychological factors such as organizational trust, job satisfaction, well-being, and work engagement among workers in the Korean food industry. This study utilized the Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) data, and a total of 472 workers were selected as subjects for the research, comprising 185 office workers and 287 production workers. Regression analysis was conducted by comparing office and production workers to test the relationship between psychological factors and to identify causal relationships through a mediation model. The results of hypothesis testing via regression analysis indicated that organizational trust is proportionally related to job satisfaction (p < 0.001), well-being (p < 0.001), and engagement (p < 0.001), while work engagement is proportionally related to job satisfaction (p < 0.001) and well-being (p < 0.001). In particular, in the regression equation analyzing organizational trust (T) and job satisfaction (y), as organizational trust increases, the rate of increase in job satisfaction of office workers (y = 1.131 + 0.610T) is greater than that of production workers (y = 1.131 + 0.557T). On the other hand, the initial level of work engagement (y) of office workers is higher than that of production workers in the regression equations concerning organizational trust (T) and work engagement (y = 1.753 + 0.516T vs. y = 1.634 + 0.516T), as well as well-being (W) and work engagement (y = 2.648 + 0.345W vs. y = 2.512 + 0.345W). According to mediation models, work engagement was directly affected by organizational trust and indirectly affected by job satisfaction or well-being, and office workers exhibited higher work engagement than production workers. The findings of this study emphasize the need for customized enhancements to working hours, work organization, and the work environment for production workers to ensure sustainable employment. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of dynapenia, pre-sarcopenia, and sarcopenia among Korean adults using nationally representative data. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the 2022–2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Participants aged 20 years and older with available muscle strength and body composition measurements were included. Handgrip strength and skeletal muscle mass (measured via bioelectrical impedance analysis) were used to classify participants based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 criteria. Logistic regression analysis identified associated risk factors. Results: The prevalence of pre-sarcopenia, dynapenia, and sarcopenia was 9.6%, 3.4%, and 1.6%, respectively. Pre-sarcopenia was most common across all age groups, while sarcopenia was primarily observed in older adults (p < 0.001). Age was a key predictor for all three conditions (p < 0.001), with sex differences—men had a higher prevalence of pre-sarcopenia (p = 0.014), whereas women showed higher rates of dynapenia (p = 0.003) and sarcopenia (p = 0.008). Low physical activity (p < 0.001), high stress (p = 0.021), and smoking (p = 0.012) were also significant risk factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of early identification and targeted interventions to prevent muscle deterioration. Public health strategies focusing on lifestyle modifications and sex-specific approaches may help mitigate the burden of sarcopenia and its related health complications in aging populations. Full article

This study addresses the academic gap in the adoption of generative AI systems by investigating the factors influencing technology acceptance and usage behavior in Korean firms. Although recent advancements in AI are accelerating digital transformation and innovation, empirical research on the adoption of these systems remains scarce. To fill this gap, this study applies the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, surveying 300 employees from both large and small enterprises in South Korea. The findings reveal that effort expectancy and social influence significantly influence employees’ behavioral intention to use generative AI systems. Specifically, effort expectancy plays a critical role in the early stages of adoption, while social influence, including support from supervisors and peers, strongly drives the adoption process. In contrast, performance expectancy and facilitating conditions show no significant impact. The study also highlights the differential effects of age and work experience on behavioral intention and usage behavior. For older employees, social support is a key factor in technology acceptance, whereas employees with more experience exhibit a more positive attitude toward adopting new technologies. Conversely, facilitating conditions are more critical for younger employees. This study contributes to the understanding of the interaction between various factors in AI technology adoption and offers strategic insights for the successful implementation of AI systems in Korean companies. Full article

Background: The electronics industry has characteristics, such as the continuous occurrence of new hazards and risk factors due to rapid technological changes, the occurrence of safety and health blind spots due to the outsourcing of work, trade secrets, and a lack of information, so research is needed from a safety and health perspective. This study sought to determine the relationship between work-related health problems and the working conditions of electronics industry workers. Methods: The study subjects were 3354 workers in the electronics industry from the raw data of the 4th to 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS). The variables were divided into general, occupational, and working environment characteristics, and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between work-related health problems and working conditions. Results: Among the general and occupational characteristics, gender, education, night work, and working time appropriateness were analyzed as effect factors. In terms of working environment characteristics, physical work risk, musculoskeletal work risk, possibility of risk to work, subjective health impact, and working environment satisfaction were found to have effects on work-related health problems. Conclusions: The results of this study are meaningful in that they identified the effect factors of work-related health problems in the working conditions of workers in the electronics industry, where prior studies are lacking. Therefore, improvements, such as the management of night workers, appropriate working time, reduction in exposure to work risk factors, and improvement in working environment satisfaction, appear to be necessary. Full article

Nurses who work in hospitals are exposed to various occupational hazards and are recognized as having high rates of musculoskeletal pain. This study aims to estimate the level of exposure to work-related hazards for nurses working in hospitals and derive factors that affect back pain, upper limb pain, and lower limb pain. This study was conducted on 462 nurses from the 6th Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS) data, deriving exposure time related to physical, biochemical, and ergonomic hazards. Also, using binomial logistic regression analysis, this study determines the factors influencing musculoskeletal pain by comprehensively considering work-related factors and physical, biochemical, and ergonomic hazards. The exposure time for standing is the highest, followed by repetitive movements, awkward postures, patient lifting/carrying, infection, heavy object handling, and vibration. The average exposure times to occupational hazards were higher for nurses experiencing pain in their back, upper limbs, and lower limbs than those without pain complaints. Factors that contribute to back pain include years of work experience (p = 0.002), type of healthcare establishment (p = 0.001), exposure level to vibration (p = 0.029), and awkward posture level (p < 0.001). Factors affecting upper limb pain include the type of shift work (p = 0.013), handling heavy objects (p < 0.001), awkward postures (p = 0.033), and repetitive movements (p = 0.002). The factors that influence lower limb pain are awkward posture (p = 0.001), patient lifting/carrying (p = 0.002), and repetitive movements (p = 0.006). This study emphasizes the importance of implementing strategies to improve occupational hazards to prevent or alleviate musculoskeletal pain. These findings provide practical guidance for managing risk factors and preventing musculoskeletal disorders among nursing professionals. Full article

This study investigated gender differences in exposure to hazardous factors, health problems, and work environment satisfaction and identified the effects of such differences on farmworkers in Korea. Through the 6th Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI), the raw data on 2347 farmworkers were analyzed to present descriptive statistics for demographic characteristics, exposure to hazardous factors, health problems, and work environment satisfaction. We compared genders using chi-squared tests and investigated the effects of gender-specific working conditions on work-related health problems and work environment satisfaction using multivariate logistic analysis. The results were presented as an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval. Job position predicted work-related health problems in male farmworkers and work environment satisfaction in female farmworkers. Furthermore, female farmworkers perceived themselves to have more health problems than male farmworkers. Nevertheless, female farmworkers received less health and safety information and had lower work environment satisfaction compared to male farmworkers. The findings may improve the occupational welfare of farmworkers through continuous enhancement of the agricultural labor environment. Full article

The adoption rate of performance-based pay systems has increased in recent years, and the adverse effects of systems have been emphasized. However, no study has analyzed the increase in the risk of depression/anxiety symptoms caused by the pay system in Korea. This study aimed to reveal the association between performance-based pay systems and symptoms of depression/anxiety, using data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey. Depressive/anxiety symptoms were assessed using “yes” or “no” questions regarding medical problems related to depression/anxiety. The performance-based pay system and job stress were estimated using self-response answers. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between performance-based pay systems, job stress, and symptoms of depression/anxiety using data from 27,793 participants. The performance-based pay system significantly increased the risk of the symptoms. Additionally, risk increments were calculated after grouping by pay system and job stress. Workers with two risk factors had the highest risk of symptoms of depression/anxiety for both sexes (male: OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.70–5.45; female: OR 2.15; 95% CI 1.32–3.50), implying synergistic effect of performance-based pay system and job stress on depression/anxiety symptoms. Based on these findings, policies should be established for early detection and protection against the risk of depression/anxiety. Full article

Due to social distancing during COVID-19, teleworking has spread in Korea. Accordingly, the effects of teleworking on physical and mental health have emerged. We aim to determine the association between teleworking and mental health, including anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance, in paid workers. The data of paid workers from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey, collected between October 2020 and April 2021, were analyzed. Gender stratification analysis and propensity score matching were performed for variables relevant to sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each sex were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Among 28,633 participants, analyses were performed for anxiety symptoms (teleworkers vs. non-teleworkers; men: 12.1% vs. 4.9%; women: 13.5% vs. 5.3%) and sleep disturbance (men: 33.6% vs. 21.3%; women: 39.7% vs. 25.3%). In male teleworkers, the AORs for anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance were 1.86 (95% CI: 1.14–3.04) and 1.52 (95% CI: 1.10–2.11), respectively. In female teleworkers, the AORs for anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbance were 1.66 (95% CI: 1.13–2.43) and 1.65 (95% CI: 1.28–2.14), respectively. Our results emphasize the importance of mental health and the need for continuous education and care for teleworkers, given the rapid increase in teleworking. Full article

While technological advancements have proliferated in our daily lives, they also pose threats to the job security of employees. Despite these growing concerns about technology-related job insecurity, little research has been carried out on the antecedents and outcomes of tech-related job insecurity. Using a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey sample of 28,989 Korean workers drawn from the Korean Working Conditions Survey, we examined the impacts of technology advancements on employee perceptions of technology-related qualitative job insecurity (i.e., perceived technology-related threat to the continued existence of valued job features) and subsequent effects on employees’ work (i.e., work engagement, job satisfaction), health (i.e., sleep), and life (i.e., work-to-family conflict) outcomes. Furthermore, we investigated the extent to which employer-provided (versus self-funded) training buffers the adverse impacts of technology advancements and associated job insecurity. The path analysis results showed more technology changes were associated with higher job insecurity, which subsequently related to adverse outcomes. While employer-provided training helped workers to reduce the negative impacts of tech changes on job insecurity, workers who paid for their training reported more adverse outcomes in face of job insecurity. We discuss these results in light of the job demands–resources theory and practical implications to buffer the adverse impacts of technology advancements. Full article

Background: This study examined the relationship between workplace mistreatment, including discrimination, abuse, and overworking, and health problems among full-time workers prior to and during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2017 and 2020–2021 Korean Working Conditions Surveys, including the final sample of 44,425 participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between workplace mistreatment and health problems among workers by gender. Interaction analysis was conducted to establish the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and health problems related to mistreatment. The occupational, demographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds were adjusted. Results: We found a significant association between workplace mistreatment and health problems, including headaches, eyestrain, and anxiety. The association increased after the COVID-19 pandemic: “discrimination” (men (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.93–2.65), women (OR 2.73, 95% CI 2.36–3.17)); abuse (men (OR 5.42, 95% CI 2.87–10.23), women (OR 4.70, 95% CI 3.12–7.08)); and overworking: men (OR 2.36, 95% CI 2.01–2.77), women (OR 3.52, 95% CI 2.68–4.61). The interaction indicates an increased incidence of people having health problems due to workplace mistreatment (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00–1.06) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Statistically, employees who experience workplace mistreatment have worse health conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the job environment and increased the association between workplace mistreatment and health problems. To eliminate the health problems related to workplace mistreatment, it is necessary to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work and employee health conditions. Full article

Objective: This study examined the relationship between the flexibility of work schedule arrangements and well-being among full-time workers prior to and after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea. Methods: Data from the fifth 2017 and sixth 2020–2021 Korean Working Conditions Survey, including a final sample of 45,137 participants (22,460 males; 22,677 females), were used. Multiple logistic regression was performed to establish the association between schedule arrangement types and the 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index. Results: The study found an association between flexible schedule arrangements and good well-being in 2017: “little flexibility” (odds ratio (OR), 1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27–1.48), “moderate flexibility” (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.28–1.71), and “high flexibility” (OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.06–1.72). During COVID-19, only workers with “high flexibility” were likely to have good well-being (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18–1.88), while the association between well-being and “low flexibility” (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.17) and “moderate flexibility” types (OR, 0.66; 95% CI 0.59–0.75) decreased. This study found that flexible working hours may contribute to better well-being among full-time workers. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working conditions and employee well-being should be addressed while setting working hours. Full article

This study investigated the association between emotional demands and depression or anxiety in a wide range of jobs. We used data from the third Korean Working Conditions Survey (n = 50,032) for all occupational classifications, with no limitations placed on job title or employment type. Among the full set of regular paid workers in addition to self-employed, unpaid family workers, and informal employees such as independent contractors, 23,989 respondents worked with “customers, passengers, students, or patients” (i.e., clients). Emotional demands were evaluated using two questions: handling angry clients and needing to hide feelings for work performance. Any depression or anxiety over the last 12 months was taken to indicate poor mental health. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed to calculate adjusted ORs with 95% confidence intervals for the influence of emotional demands on mental health, adjusting for demographic factors (age, gender, education, income), occupational psychological demands, decision latitude, social support, weekly work hours and job insecurity. The prevalence of emotional demands was higher in self-employed and informal employees than in regular paid employees. The more frequent the exposure to the two emotional demands combined was, the higher the risk of depression or anxiety. High psychological demands, low social support, and low job security each further increased the risk of poor mental health. Emotional demands turned out to be widespread in the entire economy, were not limited to service or sales occupations, and were more evident in precarious work. The contribution of emotional demands and other preventable job stressors to the burden of depression or anxiety in society may be substantial. Full article

(1) Background: Workers spend most of their days working. One’s working environment can be a risk factor for suicide. In this study, we examined whether suicidal ideation can be predicted using individual characteristics, emotional states, and working environments. (2) Methods: Nine years of data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey were used. A total of 12,816 data points were analyzed, and 23 variables were selected. The random forest technique was used to predict suicidal thoughts. (3) Results: When suicidal ideation cases were predicted using all of the independent variables, 98.9% of cases were predicted, and 97.4% could be predicted using only work-related conditions. (4) Conclusions: It was confirmed that suicide risk could be predicted efficiently when machine learning techniques were applied using variables such as working environments. Full article

In South Korea, the automobile sector is a key industry that occupies a very large proportion of production, employment, and exports in the national economy. However, production workers in the automobile industry are still exposed to a wide range of risk factors. This study aims to investigate the relationships between personal characteristics or occupational hazard exposure and subjective overall fatigue or musculoskeletal pains in the automobile manufacturing industry. We extracted 446 automobile manufacturing production workers as subjects from the data of the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey. The χ² test is performed to test whether there are differences in the distribution of complaints of musculoskeletal pains or overall fatigue in view of personal characteristics and exposure to working environment hazards and logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationships between them. Results showed that the proportions of the overall fatigue and musculoskeletal pains of the complaining group increase as the hazard exposure time increases. Longer exposure to tobacco smoke shows higher rates of complaints of overall fatigue and musculoskeletal pain. Results of logistic regression show that gender, longer exposure to fumes and dust, manual heavy loads handling, and to repetitive motion were the risk factors for overall fatigue and that gender, work experience, longer working hours, longer exposure to noise, fumes and dust, awkward posture, and high temperature were risk factors for musculoskeletal pains. The results show that there are close relationships between personal characteristics, working environment hazards, overall fatigue, and musculoskeletal pains. Full article

Background: Korean society has become an elderly society at an unprecedented rate, and the associated social and economic problems are very serious. Maintaining a healthy oral condition is important for older people’s well-being and quality of life, and is essential for healthy ageing. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of dental hygienists’ experiences related to the elderly on their perception of human rights violations toward the elderly. Methods: This study was conducted through an IRB review at Silla University in Korea (No. 1041449-202012-HR-001). For about a month after 1 February 2021, the survey questionnaire was distributed to dental hygienists living in South Korea, and 153 people who completed and sent back the questionnaires were selected as the final subjects. The items on the questionnaire consisted of perception of human rights violations for the elderly and experiences related to the elderly. A polyserial correlation analysis was performed to confirm the relevance of each factor, and a multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the factors of elderly-related experiences that affect the perception of human rights violations against the elderly. Results: All three experiences related to the elderly (the experience of receiving education related to the elderly, the experience of volunteer work related to the elderly, and the experience of being interested in issues related to the elderly) were highly related to the perception of violations of financial human rights of the elderly (p < 0.01). In addition, the experience of education related to the elderly showed a high perception of psychological violations of the human rights of the elderly (R = 0.405, p < 0.01), and the experience of volunteer activities related to the elderly showed a high perception of neglectful violations of human rights of the elderly (R = 0.277, p < 0.01). Conclusions: In this study, it was confirmed that there is a relationship between dental hygienists’ experiences related to the elderly and their perception of human rights violations in the elderly. Therefore, dental hygienists should do their best to manage the elderly’s oral health by raising awareness of the human rights violations against the elderly through the elderly professional course based on their experience with the elderly. Full article