Bending Work Time : Curvilinear Relationship Between Working Time Dimensions and Psychological and Somatic Symptoms

Objectives Study examines the curvilinear associations of working time dimensions (working hours, time pressure, work schedules, and control of work time and pace) on psychological and somatic symptoms. Methods Representative Finnish Quality-of-Work-Life Surveys conducted in 2003, 2008 and 2013 were restricted to those (N=11,165) regularly working over 10h/week with more than one-year tenure in their job. Generalised additive models were utilised in analysis. Results Working hours had U-shaped relationships with psychosomatic symptoms, while time pressure had a threshold effect. Work pace control had linear effect. The effects of work time control and work schedules were insignificant. There were interaction effects between working time dimensions. Conclusions Organisations should acknowledge the dynamics of working time dimensions. Notably, time pressure has a hazardous relation to psychosomatic symptoms, but working pace control can buffer the negative effect.