ArticleHealth economics review2022
Does less working time improve life satisfaction? Evidence from European Social Survey.
Article in Health economics review, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Association between working ≥10 hours per day and satisfaction with work environment among wage workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study using data from the 7th Korean Working Conditions Survey.Annals of occupational and environmental medicine · 2026Article
- How work hours affect well-being: A target trial emulation.PloS one · 2026Article
- The Short-Term Impacts of Japan's 2024 Physician Working-Hour Limits on Labor Conditions, Self-Directed Professional Development, and Happiness Among Obstetrician-Gynecologists.The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research · 2025Article
- Does "Lying Flat" Lead to Greater Life Satisfaction? Evidence from Empirical Research.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Internet use and life satisfaction among empty nesters in rural areas of Yangzhou: based on propensity score matching and mediating effect model.BMC geriatrics · 2025Article
- The joy of surgery: how surgeons experience joy, time, and support.Surgical endoscopy · 2024Article
- Determinants of life satisfaction among migrants in South Africa: an analysis of the GCRO's quality of life survey (2009-2021).BMC public health · 2023Article
- Unpacking the Potential Influence of Life Satisfaction on Network Heterogeneity, Emotional Exhaustion and Mobile App Fatigue: A Stressor-Strain-Outcome Approach.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
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Funding
Abstract
backgroundWorktime is one of the main drivers of life satisfaction, and a balanced distribution of working hours and leisure hours directly impacts feelings of well-being. Based on previous studies, we seek to confirm this relationship in the European context and explore other potential driving forces of life satisfaction. Health condition as the mediating variable is also examined.
methodsThis article uses an ordered probit model to analyze the impact of working time on life satisfaction using data extracted from the most recent round (wave 10) of the European Social Survey (ESS). Hypotheses are proposed to test the impact of working time on life satisfaction, the mediating effect of health in the worktime-satisfaction nexus, and the effects of social inclusion, social trust, feelings of safety, and digitalization on life satisfaction.
resultsThe results reveal a negative and significant correlation between hours of work and life satisfaction, thus implying that a shorter working week can improve Europeans' life satisfaction. Health is found to be an important intermediate variable that plays an essential role in the dynamic through which working times influence life satisfaction. Further, we find that those in the middle class prefer to work shorter hours to achieve a higher feeling of satisfaction and that high earners to a lesser extent, while low earners generally show no preference. Employees of private firms are more satisfied with shorter working hours, while satisfaction for those working in public institutions is not affected by changes in hours worked. Finally, we verify the robustness of our estimations by replacing life satisfaction with happiness.
conclusionsWorking fewer hours contributes to higher life satisfaction in Europe, and health plays an essential mediating role in this relationship. Social inclusion, social trust, feelings of safety and digitalization all play a factor in improving life satisfaction. Compared to other job categories, private sector employees can achieve greater life satisfaction from reducing their total working time.
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