The importance of individual preferences when evaluating the associations between working hours and indicators of health and well-being.
Previous studies indicate that the effect of a given shift schedule may depend on individual factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether a misfit between individual preferences and actual working hours affected the association between working hours and self-reported indicators of health and well-being. The study population consisted of 173 female eldercare workers who mainly worked day or evening shifts. We combined self-reported questionnaire data on preferences with actual work schedules during a four-week period. The study showed that a misfit between preferences on one hand and "non-day work", "weekend work" or "only a few consecutive days off" on the other hand was associated with an increased dissatisfaction with working hours and/or an increase in the intention to leave the workplace due to one's working hours.
Nabe-Nielsen
Kirsten
K
The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lerso Parkallé 105, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. knn@nrcwe.dk
Kecklund
Göran
G
Ingre
Michael
M
Skotte
Jørgen
J
Diderichsen
Finn
F
Garde
Anne Helene
AH
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D016272:Occupational Health; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*