Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Characteristics as Predictors of Adjustment to Shiftwork.
This study assessed whether pre-shiftwork measures of sleep behavior and circadian rhythm characteristics predicted psychological symptoms and attitudes toward shiftwork. Psychological symptoms were measured before shiftwork (Stage 1), and after six months (Stage 2) and 15 months (Stage 3) on rapid-rotation shiftwork. Attitudes were measured at Stages 2 and 3. Sixty-four participants recorded sleep duration and quality for ten days before commencing shiftwork, and 31 also recorded oral temperature data. Multiple regression analyses indicated that sleep quality was significantly correlated with psychological symptoms at Stage 1, and significantly predicted psychological symptoms at Stage 2 but not Stage 3. Circadian acrophase predicted psychological symptoms at Stage 2, but the relationship was not in the predicted direction. Circadian amplitude and sleep duration did not predict symptoms or attitudes at any stage. These results support previous evidence suggesting that pre-shiftwork differences in these sleep and circadian rhythm characteristics are poor predictors of psychological symptoms and attitudes toward shiftwork.
Bohle
PL
Graduate School of Management, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia.