Effects of emotional labor and sleep quality on depression in older apartment security workers in Korea: a cross-sectional study

Purpose Korea’s population is aging rapidly, and many older adults are now working as apartment security workers after retirement. They often experience poor working conditions and emotional labor, which can lead to depression. Although factors such as age, health, job insecurity, emotional labor, and sleep problems relate to depression in older workers, little evidence exists regarding older apartment security workers. This study, therefore, examined the effects of emotional labor and sleep quality on depression in these individuals. Methods Between August and December 2023, 209 older apartment security workers participated in the study, completing a questionnaire that assessed their emotional labor, sleep quality, and depression. Data were examined using descriptive statistics, the independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. Results This study found that 206 participants (98.6%) experienced poor sleep quality, and 70 participants (33.5%) reported feeling depressed. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that family type (β = .30), sleep quality (β = .29), emotional labor (β = .16), and unfair dismissal (β = .14) were significant predictors of depression, with an explanatory power of 25.0% (F = 18.26, p < .001). Conclusion Depression and inadequate sleep were found to be highly prevalent in older security workers. The findings suggest that social isolation, inadequate sleep, increased emotional labor, and unstable employment may increase the risk of depression. Therefore, routine screening for these predictors may be beneficial, and comprehensive nursing interventions should be developed to reduce depression among older apartment security workers.