Scoping ReviewHumann = 18 peer-reviewed articles2025
Influence of psychosocial work factors on male fertility and sperm quality: a scoping review.
Plain-language summary
This scoping review set out to map the evidence on how psychosocial work factors affect male fertility and sperm quality. It analyzed 18 peer-reviewed studies from 1990 to 2024, focusing on working men and factors like shift work, job stress, and social support. The findings were mixed on shift work and long hours, but job stress and cognitive weariness clearly lowered sperm quality, while social support at work helped buffer these effects. The review also noted that smoking, poor sleep, and conditions like depression and diabetes were linked to worse fertility outcomes.
Key findings
- Job stress and cognitive weariness reduce male fertility by lowering sperm quality.
- Social support at work buffers the negative effects of high job demands on sperm quality.
- Shift work and long working hours had inconclusive effects on fertility and sperm quality.
- Smoking, poor sleep, depression, and diabetes were linked to poorer fertility and sperm quality.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Scoping reviews are good for mapping the breadth of evidence on a topic but do not weigh the strength of individual studies or provide definitive conclusions.
- Population
- Working men from studies published between 1990 and 2024.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This review found that job stress and cognitive weariness can harm sperm quality, while social support at work helps protect it. If you are under high work stress, it may be worth seeking ways to reduce strain and build supportive connections.