Researchers at the University of Michigan have demonstrated the single factor of work words to have a negative impact on well-being.

Specifically, increasing working hours increases the risk of depression. 

The research team at the University of Michigan used statistical data from the Intern Health Study, based at Michigan Neuroscience Institute and Eisenberg Family Depression Center, to reveal  the correlation between work hours and depression symptoms. 

This study used an advanced statistical method to emulate a randomized clinical trial. 

They compared residents who work 40 to 45 hours a week with residents who work over 90 hours a week and found a dose effect between work hours and depression symptoms.

The dose effect refers to the response produced by a certain exposure time to a stimulus or stressor. 

Those working 40 to 45 hours a week scored an average symptom of 1.8 points on a standard scale.

On the other hand, those working over 90 hours a week scored ranging up 5.2 points. 

From this shocking correlation, researchers concluded that working a large number of hours could raise the risk of depression. 

In fact, those who work more than 90 hours scored high enough to qualify for a diagnosis of severe depression. 

This study was aimed to address the high rates of depression  among physicians who  were reported to work 65 to 80 hours per week. 

In terms of the sample, the average age of the physicians in the study was 27, with half of the group being women.

One in five was training in surgical disciplines, and 18% were from ethnic groups.

In this study, researchers well adjusted and took into consideration gender, neuroticism, pre-internship history of depression, early family environment, age, the year they began the internship, marital status, whether they had children, and stressful life events and medical errors during the intern year.

Currently, The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) sets the standard 80 work hours per week. 

Additionally, “ACGME also limits the length of a single shift and the number of days in a row that residents can work”. 

Researchers stated that their findings demonstrate a need to reduce the limited number of hours residents work per week even further. 

From their interpretations of the data, they argue that reducing the average number of residents’ work hours would make a significant difference in lowering the risk of depression.

“The key thing is to have people work fewer hours; you can more effectively deal with the stresses or frustrations of your job when you have more time to recover”, says Amy Bohnert, Ph.D., a professor at the U-M Medical School and the study’s senior author. 

Bohnert notes that residency directors running training programs for new doctors could reduce work hours through prioritizing efforts that increase efficiency and decrease unnecessary work. 

Thus, as shown by the study, it is crucial that we do not overwork and take care of our well-being.

Dustin Kim
Grade 11
Shanghai American School Puxi