Previous studies have already associated irregular working hours with a shift in the biological clock. However, the shift in the internal clock is a factor not only in sleep disorders and drowsiness, but also in numerous chronic health problems, ranging from metabolic disorders, to cancers and cognitive disorders. This research explores more specifically the effects of schedules lagged as a direct and indirect factor and as a marker of overall health.
Regular working hours associated with better health
The study analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 (NLSY79), i.e. more than 7,000 participants aged 30 and over at inclusion, and followed until the age of 50. The aim was to link employment characteristics in early adulthood to sleep quality, physical health and mental well-being at age 50. Among the participants,
- 60% followed standard schedules throughout their career;
- 30% started working standard hours, but then moved to flexible hours;
- 10% did not work for the majority of study follow-up.
The analysis reveals that:
- compared to those who maintain standard schedules throughout their career, participants following variable schedules sleep less, have poorer quality sleep and are more likely to present depressive symptoms at age 50;
- this risk is further increased among participants who move from stable schedules in their twenties to staggered schedules later in life;
- disparities are observed between different demographic groups.
Thus, staggered working hours promote lack of sleep, increase physical fatigue and the risk of emotional burnout.
“Work, which is supposed to provide us with resources to help us lead a decent life, can sometimes become an obstacle to a healthy life due to unequal working conditions that are sometimes even responsible for health problems.”
In conclusion, “work models” influence directly our daily routines, essential for sleep and more broadly also for overall health; are also factors indirect health, because it is closely associated with socio-economic status, which is itself a factor in health inequalities; they can finally constitute a possible marker health later in life.
Swiss
