0168 Shift Work Sleep Disorder In Industrial Workers: A Survey

Abstract

Introduction: About one in five employees works during night time hours in industrialised countries. But there is little empirical research on this issue. In light of this gap in established literature, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with shift work sleep disorder(SWSD), in order to uncover the susceptibility mechanism and related protective factors. Methods: We recruited 576 participants for this study (mean age = 31.2 years, SD=8.9 years, 70% male) from 10 factories in China. Subjects were divided into two groups: shift workers (N=335) and day workers (N=241). Questionnaires employed in this study consist of items on demographic information, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, DASS-21, the Patient Health Questionnaire-15, and the Perceived Social Support Scale and TIPI-C. Results: The prevalence rate associated with SWSD was 31.3% in this study,while 24.9% day workers met the criteria for disturbed sleep quality and/or sleepiness. Physiological, psychological and social/environmental factors influenced the adjustability of workers to shift work. Those under high work pressure, who were also more agreeable, tended to experience more adjustment difficulties related to shift work. For female, the accessibility to better social support was a protective factor of SWSD. Furthermore, there were interactions between the three factors. Circadian rhythm correlated with the ability of workers to adjust to shift work. Higher scores on morningness were related to lower SWSD detection. Comparing to day workers, shift workers tended to have more sleep problems. Shift workers who met criteria for SWSD had significant higher rates of depression, anxiety, impaired work performance and health, and more frequent dissociation from family and social activities, compared to those healthy shift workers. Conclusion: The present study showed that shift workers generated more excessive sleepiness with poorer sleep quality compare to day workers. People who met criteria for SWSD were more likely to have a bad physical-psychological condition and impaired social function. By matching workers with specific traits and providing better social support, the damages resulting from shift work could reduce remarkably. .