Does the quality of life differ for shift workers compared to day workers?

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Sleep Medicine
• Naval Science

Background:

• Quality of life is often presumed to be better for dayworkers compared to shiftworkers.
• Shift work is common in military settings, potentially impacting sailor well-being.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated sleep quality differences and issues among naval personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the quality of life, sleep patterns, and mood states between dayworkers and shiftworkers in the United States Navy (USN).
• To identify the prevalence of specific sleep problems, such as insufficient sleep, split sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and poor sleep quality, in both groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 804 United States Navy sailors (78.4% males).
• Participants' sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
• Mood states were evaluated using the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire, and sleepiness was assessed.
• Sleep duration, split sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness were recorded.

Main Results:

• Dayworkers reported better sleep, less sleepiness, greater vigor, and reduced fatigue compared to shiftworkers.
• Despite these advantages, 25% of dayworkers slept less than 6.5 hours per night, 62% experienced split sleep, 31% reported EDS, and 64% were classified as poor sleepers.
• Both groups exhibited similar sleep-related behaviors, insomnia rates, comorbid EDS/insomnia, and overall mood disturbance scores.

Conclusions:

• Shipboard sleep-related issues are highly prevalent among USN sailors, affecting both dayworkers and shiftworkers.
• While dayworkers may have some advantages over shiftworkers, significant sleep problems persist within this population.
• These findings highlight the need for interventions to improve sleep health in naval personnel.