Unmanaged 'Managed Heart': Associations between Emotional Labour and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the association between emotional labour and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among Korean workers.

Methods: This study used data from the Korean Work, Health, and Sleep Study. Emotional labour was measured using the Korean Emotional Labour Scale-11, and participants were classified into high- and low-risk groups. CVD risk factors assessed included smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, sleep duration, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia. Generalised estimating equation models were used to analyse the associations.

Results: High-risk emotional labour was significantly associated with increased odds of smoking, lack of exercise, and insufficient sleep. Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia also showed elevated odds in the high-risk group, particularly among males.

Conclusions: This study suggests emotional labour as a critical occupational stressor contributing to various CVD risk factors.

Keywords: Emotional labour; cardiovascular disease; occupational stress; risk factors.