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The Effects of Work Hours on Physical and Mental Health of Late Prime Age Men and Women

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  • Comfort F. Ricketts
  • Randall C. Campbell
  • Jon P. Rezek

Abstract

Our results show that negative returns to health outcomes set in at around 50 work hours per week, and that the negative effects of working long hours manifest earlier for women than men. Increased work hours are associated with higher incomes and better access to medical care. However, increased work hours also generate greater physical and mental stress, which may cause health problems. We examine these questions empirically with data from the 2006 wave of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY), using two-stage least squares to account for endogeneity of work hours and income in the health outcomes model. JEL Classifications : I10, J22, C36

Suggested Citation

  • Comfort F. Ricketts & Randall C. Campbell & Jon P. Rezek, 2019. "The Effects of Work Hours on Physical and Mental Health of Late Prime Age Men and Women," The American Economist, Sage Publications, vol. 64(2), pages 216-236, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:amerec:v:64:y:2019:i:2:p:216-236
    DOI: 10.1177/0569434519848977
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mental health; physical health; work hours;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • C36 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation

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