Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

  • Volume 34
  • /
  • Pages.44.1-44.12
  • /
  • 2022
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  • 1225-3618(pISSN)
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  • 2052-4374(eISSN)
The Korean Society of Occupational & Environmental Medicine (대한직업환경의학회)
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Use of work-related communication technology outside regular working hours and work-family conflict (work interference with family and family interference with work): results from the 6th Korean working conditions survey

  • Baek-Yong Choi (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jin-Young Min (Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center) ;
  • Seung-Woo Ryoo (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kyoung-Bok Min (Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2022.08.23
  • Accepted : 2022.11.13
  • Published : 2022.12.31
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Abstract

Background: Recently, use of work-related communication technology-smartphones, tablets, and laptops-is increasing rapidly by development of technology with the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Some studies have suggested that work-related communication technology has a significant link with work-family conflict (WFC) but these studies included only limited number of participants and lacked essential covariates. Therefore, this study analyzes this association using large representative data sample and selected waged workers who were married-couples with children. Methods: This study was conducted based on data from the 6th Korean Working Conditions Surveys (KWCS). A total of 17,426 waged workers having a marriage partner and one or more children were selected. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether WFC was associated with communication technology use. The odds ratios (ORs) for WFC were stratified by sex and working hours. Results: In fully adjusted model, WFC was higher those who used communication technology outside regular working hours compared with those who did not use it (OR: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-1.97). When stratified by sex and working hours, the effect was greater in women than in men (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.42-2.26 vs. OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.17-1.97) and women who worked over 52 hours per week had the highest OR (3.40; 95% CI: 1.25-9.26). Conclusions: This study revealed that the work-related communication technology use outside regular working hours was associated with WFC. The association were greater among those having longer working hours and female workers. These results suggest that appropriate policy should be implemented to reduce working hours and right to disconnect after work, particularly in female workers.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The authors appreciate the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency for providing us with the data from the sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey.

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