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 10 h/wk with more than 1-year tenure in their job. Generalized additive models were utilized 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: Organizations 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.