Long Working Hours Make Women Turn to Alcohol

A new study conducted by researchers from New Zealand suggest that long working hours may be linked to increased use of alcohol among nurses. Researchers from University of Otago and University of Queensland surveyed more than 4,400 nurses and midwives in New Zealand and Australia and found that nearly 14 percent of those surveyed indulged in drinking more than the recommended limit of two glasses of alcohol in a day. The study has been published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.

The researchers found that those nurses and midwives who worked for nearly 40 to 50 hours a week were more likely to indulge in excessive drinking. The researchers also found that the quantity of alcohol consumed was related to the working hours with those working the longest drinking the most amount of alcohol.

“Other studies have found that 6-10% of nurses abuse alcohol at any one time and that 10-15% will abuse it at some time during their careers so this result regarding the impact of long working hours and alcohol is significant as it is substantially higher. It's important as well because international research shows that long working hours have a detrimental association with workplace accidents and compromised patient safety”, lead researcher Professor Philip Schluter said.



Source-Medindia