Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background Work-related stress may increase alcohol consumption. This longitudinal study examined associations between long working hours, perceived workload, work-family conflict, and the risk of developing hazardous alcohol use (>108 g/week of alcohol and/or heavy drinking episodes) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods The study sample was drawn from the Stockholm Public Health Cohort, a prospective, population-based cohort with survey data linked to health registers. We included individuals from the 2002 (n = 8,063) and 2006 (n = 11,475) sub-cohorts who were aged 22-55 years, in paid work, and were free from hazardous alcohol use and prior AUD. Participants were followed for hazardous alcohol use via surveys and for AUD via registers until 2021. Logistic regression with inverse probability censoring weights and Cox regression were used to estimate associations. Results Overall, 18% reported working ≥45 hours/week, 55% wished to work fewer hours, and 18% reported work-family conflict. Long working hours were weakly associated with an increased risk of hazardous alcohol use (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2–1.4), and work–family conflict was associated with a higher risk of AUD (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–1.4). Conclusions Work-related factors are weakly associated with the subsequent development of hazardous alcohol consumption and higher risk of AUD. Key messages • This longitudinal, population-based study combined survey and register-based information to investigate the association between work-related factors and developing hazardous alcohol use. • Working long hours and work-family conflict were associated with higher risk of developing hazardous alcohol use or alcohol use disorder.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223659219