Full-time work is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Independent men and women taking care of the household or children full-time fare better, according to a Friborg study.
Some cancer risk factors are well known – smoke, alcohol, sedentary lifestyle – and others are a little more difficult to explain, such as work. With the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), scientists from the University of Friborg have demonstrated the existence of a link between the incidence of the disease and certain types of professional career paths.
Employee and full time
Their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports et on the SNSF websiteshows in particular that women working full time have a significantly higher risk than those who take care of the house and children, but also that self-employed men are less likely to be ill than those who are employed.
To achieve these results, scientists dissected the professional histories of 6,809 women and 5,716 men, born between 1915 and 1945 in 14 European countries. They found associations between long-term cancer risk and eight types of pathways, such as ‘working mostly full-time’, ‘working mostly in housekeeping and caregiving’, ‘working full-time then mostly in housekeeping and care” or “mainly unemployed”.
Correlation, not necessarily causation
According to Rose van der Linden, epidemiologist at the University of Friborg and lead author of the study, a direct causal relationship cannot be established between cancer incidence and professional career.
“Correlation does not imply causation,” explains the researcher, quoted Wednesday in a press release from the FNS. “My hypothesis is that the increased risk of cancer is linked to behaviors that are more frequently found in those who are 100% employed,” she says.
Work stress could be a risk factor, like certain types of physical activities.
Outstanding Questions
Full-time employees are at higher risk than other categories, and the difference is even greater among women. According to Rose van der Linden, it is possible that women are exposed to more stress than men, to work that is less rewarding and causes depression, or sometimes to a harmful combination of professional activities and household chores.
Other results also raise questions. Thus, the lower risk of cancer incurred by men who work independently, compared to employees. “We can speculate that the self-employed are more motivated to take care of their health, because they run a greater risk of losing their job in the event of a problem,” supposes the researcher.
The researcher believes that “additional studies” are necessary.
This work was carried out within the framework of the National Research Center (PRN) “LIVES – Overcoming vulnerability: life course perspective”, now completed.
ats/juma
