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Source: Reuters -
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People who work longer hours are two to three times more likely to become alcoholics, University of Otago research has found.
The study, which used data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study, found those working at least 50 hours a week were 1.8 to 3.3 times more likely to have alcohol-related problems than those who were not working.
Those working the average 40-hour week were also more at risk than those working part-time, according to the study's lead author, Dr Sheree Gibb.
"Any increase in your working hours is actually associated with an increase in your risk of alcohol problems," she told TV ONE's Breakfast.
"So those who are working say 40 hours actually have slightly higher rates of alcohol problems compared to those who are working 20 hours or 10 hours."
While the study did not look into the reasons for the increase in alcohol-related issues among those working long hours, Gibbs said two reasons were likely.
"It could be to do with stress, so people who are working long hours are probably experiencing higher rates of stress at work but also balancing their work with their home life."
Another reason, Gibbs said, was people who work longer hours might have a more active work social culture.
"Probably the most important thing that it shows is that perhaps people who are working long hours, need to be quite aware that they might be at high risk of alcohol problems," she said.
Gibbs said employers also need to be more aware that employees might have problems with alcohol.
About one in six people who took part in the study worked more than 50 hours a week.
The study followed more than 1000 people born in Christchurch in 1977 through to the age of 30.
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