Shift work tolerance

Area of Science:

• Chronobiology and Occupational Health
• Human Genetics
• Psychology

Background:

• Shift work is prevalent across numerous occupations, necessitating an understanding of individual differences in shift work tolerance (SWT).
• Variations in SWT impact the well-being and performance of shift workers, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive qualitative review of research advances in shift work tolerance (SWT) architecture from 2011 to 2021.
• To synthesize findings from longitudinal studies and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) related to SWT.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search across Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline for terms related to SWT.
• Included genome-wide association studies (GWAS) from GWAS Central and GWAS Catalogue to investigate the genetic basis of SWT.

Main Results:

• Eleven new studies published since 2011, with a doubling of longitudinal SWT research.
• Identified consistent associations with hardiness, and new factors like resistance to change and job stress.
• Fifteen large-scale GWAS revealed gene overlaps (e.g., PER2/3, PAX8, LINGO1) for SWT-related traits using UK Biobank and 23andMe data.

Conclusions:

• Progress in longitudinal SWT studies is noted, but a standardized definition remains essential.
• Non-genetic factors identified in SWT research are increasingly being explored through GWAS.
• Genetic and trait-based insights offer potential for personalized risk prediction and disease prevention for night-shift workers.