MIDDLE-aged adults juggling paid employment with domestic and caregiving duties may be putting their sleep and mental health at risk, according to a new study from Japan.
Researchers found that total working hours, including housework, childcare, and caregiving, were a stronger predictor of poor sleep and mental wellbeing than paid work alone.
Cultural expectations often place additional domestic responsibilities on women, and the study suggests this may contribute to gender disparities in health outcomes.
Impact of Working Hours on Sleep and Health
The study surveyed nearly 4,000 healthy middle-aged Japanese adults, collecting self-reported hours spent on paid and unpaid work. Participants also rated their sleep quality and mental health.
Even though women typically spent fewer hours in paid employment than men, their total working hours were longer due to domestic responsibilities. Analysis revealed that extended working hours were linked to nonrestorative sleep in both men and women, while poor mental health was particularly associated with long hours among women.
Lead researcher commentary highlighted that unpaid care and domestic work are often overlooked in health risk assessments, yet they carry significant consequences for wellbeing.
Why Gender Makes a Difference
Women’s longer total working hours stemmed primarily from housework and caregiving duties. These additional responsibilities may explain why poor mental health was more prevalent among women with extended working hours, despite similar paid work commitments.
Men, while also affected by long working days, showed less of a link between total work and mental health, though sleep quality remained impacted.
Implications for Health Policy
The findings underline the importance of considering all work hours when evaluating health risks. Policies aimed at improving wellbeing should address both paid and unpaid labour, promoting fairer distribution of domestic duties and encouraging strategies to reduce total daily workload.
Experts suggest employers, health practitioners, and policymakers incorporate domestic responsibilities into health assessments and workplace wellbeing initiatives. Recognising the hidden toll of unpaid work may help prevent chronic sleep problems and support mental health, particularly in women.
Reference
Morimoto A et al. Associations of total daily working hours encompassing unpaid care and domestic work with nonrestorative sleep and mental health in middle-aged Japanese men and women: A cross-sectional study. Soc Sci Med. 2026;392:118965.
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