There are many lifestyle factors that promote diseases such as cancer. The number of hours worked can also play a larger role.
Fulda – The University of Fribourg in Switzerland conducted a study to examine the risk of cancer in full-time employees. The researchers, who analyzed data from more than 12,500 people from 14 European countries, found that the length of daily work affects the risk of cancer.
Stress as a trigger for cancer?
People who worked full time were more likely to develop cancer than people who worked other hours. The increased risk is especially noted among women who work full time. The Swiss researchers also have bad news for men with a full work week: “For men, the risk of cancer was lower in the ‘mainly self-employed’ category than in the ‘mainly full-time’ category.” But the study results should be critically questioned. , 24vita.de reports.
Employment records of study participants born up to 1945 formed the basis of the data. Different forms of employment were taken into account, including full-time and part-time work as well as housework. One problem: The data were retrospective, so study participants reported on events that actually occurred, which can lead to skewed results in studies. The transferability of the results to younger generations must also be questioned.
Study author Bernadette van der Linden of the Population Health Laboratory at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland suggests that there is a relationship between full-time work and… An increased risk of cancer was foundBut the study did not clarify exactly which side is responsible for this.
Working full-time in sedentary jobs such as office work may be particularly harmful. Too much sitting and too little exercise in your free time has been proven to cause cancer. However, the Swiss researchers took known risk factors such as lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol and diet into account in the analysis.
Van der Linden believes stress is a big problem among full-time employees. Researchers have not yet been able to prove a direct effect of stress on cancer development, but they have also not been able to rule out how this might happen. German Cancer Research Center I was informed.
Additional research should show exactly how work hours affect cancer risk
The study findings highlight the need for more research to better understand the relationships between work life and cancer risk. Further studies could also provide concrete recommendations for improving working conditions.
More information about the study “Lifetime pathways and cancer“
release date: August 30, 2024
Published In the journal Scientific Reports
range: 6,809 women and 5,716 men participated in the study
Study authors: A Swiss research team led by Bernadette van der Linden from the Population Health Laboratory at the University of Fribourg
This article only contains general information about the health topic in question and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It does not, in any way, replace a visit to a doctor. Our editorial team is not permitted to answer individual questions about medical conditions.
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