A study published in the journal PLOS One suggests that young adults who work irregular shifts may be at a higher risk of developing sleep problems and physical and mental health issues later in life. Researchers used data from over 7,300 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 over a span of more than 30 years to examine the impact of employment patterns starting at age 22 on sleep hours and quality, physical and mental functions, and the likelihood of reporting poor health and depressive symptoms at age 50.
The results showed that participants who worked irregular shifts or night shifts tended to sleep less and worse compared to those with a typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. As participants reached age 50, those who had worked irregular hours were more likely to report feelings of depression. The study also found a correlation between volatile work schedules, such as working evening or night hours, and poor health in middle age. Additionally, black participants were more likely to have this type of schedule.
Wen-Jui Han, the author of the study, expressed concern that work has become a vulnerability to healthy living due to the increasingly precarious nature of work arrangements.