A process model of shiftwork and health

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Shiftwork is common and associated with significant health consequences.
• Adaptation to shiftwork involves complex interactions between individual and situational factors.
• Previous models have not fully captured the pathway from shiftwork to chronic health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a process model of adaptation to shiftwork.
• To identify key variables influencing sleep, social, and domestic disturbances.
• To examine the link between these disturbances, coping behaviors, and chronic health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Developed a process model of shiftwork adaptation.
• Collected survey data from two large samples of nurses (N=1,532) in the UK.
• Cross-validated the model using data from a sample of industrial workers (N=370).

Main Results:

• The developed model demonstrated support across all three samples.
• Individual and situational variables were found to influence sleep and social disturbances.
• These disturbances, along with coping behaviors, predicted proximal outcomes and chronic health symptoms.

Conclusions:

• The model provides a robust framework for understanding shiftwork adaptation.
• Findings have direct implications for developing targeted interventions for shift workers.
• Further research should explore sample-specific and subgroup effects within the model.