title: What work schedule characteristics constitute a problem to the individual? A representative study of Swedish shift workers.
abstract: The purpose was to investigate which detailed characteristics of shift schedules that are seen as problems to those exposed. A representative national sample of non-day workers (N = 2031) in Sweden was asked whether they had each of a number of particular work schedule characteristics and, if yes, to what extent this constituted a "big problem in life". It was also inquired whether the individual's work schedules had negative consequences for fatigue, sleep and social life. The characteristic with the highest percentage reporting a big problem was "short notice (<1 month) of a new work schedule" (30.5%), <11 h off between shifts (27.8%), and split duty (>1.5 h break at mid-shift, 27.2%). Overtime (>10 h/week), night work, morning work, day/night shifts showed lower prevalences of being a "big problem". Women indicated more problems in general. Short notice was mainly related to negative social effects, while <11 h off between shifts was related to disturbed sleep, fatigue and social difficulties. It was concluded that schedules involving unpredictable working hours (short notice), short daily rest between shifts, and split duty shifts constitute big problems. The results challenge current views of what aspects of shift work need improvement, and negative social consequences seem more important than those related to health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 17771 Stockholm, Sweden; Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: torbjorn.akerstedt@ki.se.
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Åkerstedt
authors.affiliation: Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 17771 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kecklund
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012890:Sleep; D058992:Social Participation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Daily rest; Health; Night work; Shift work; Split duty