Shift work and women

Abstract

Background: Shift workers face many physical, mental and social problems due to the disruption in the synchronization of their circadian rhythms, unusual working hours, exemption from social life as well as the negative impacts of such work. The purpose of the present study was to assess the different impacts of shift work on sleep, mental and social status among female textile workers in Denizli, Turkey. Methods: The study was carried out in 2012 at two different textile factories in Denizli-Turkey. A total of 799 workers took part in the study: 661 were shift workers and 138 were non-shift workers. Daytime sleepiness and quality of sleep were evaluated respectively via the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Polysomnographic examinations and psychiatric interviews were conducted on seven shift workers and 11 non-shift workers who exhibited daytime sleepiness. Results: The prevalence of daytime sleepiness was 20% and the rate of poor sleep quality was 61.5% among non-shift workers, while the rates were 15.4% and 83.5%, respectively among shift workers. It was observed that working shifts does not have an impact on daytime sleepiness, but is related to a 4.92-fold risk of poor sleep quality. In addition, risk of daytime sleepiness was 3.41 times higher in the presence of a mentally/physically disabled person in the family, 3.36 times higher if the person has an extra job, 3.15 times higher if the person suffered/suffers from a previous/ current psychiatric disorder, and 1.17 times higher if the daily house work load of the individual is high. Conclusions: Working shifts disturbs sleep quality independent of many factors known to effect sleep. A history of previous or present psychiatric disorders increases the risk of daytime sleepiness. © 2020, Mediafarm Group. All rights reserved.