The immediate drawbacks of an irregular work schedule are evident: You may be sacrificing time with loved ones.
Further long-term repercussions might also be in play, as indicated by recent research on the connections between work routines and health outcomes in later years.
Studies have illustrated how erratic work hours can impact overall health and social interactions. However, a new study adopts a “life-course” perspective to examine how work patterns influence health across adulthood rather than at a single point in time.
The latest report, released on Wednesday in the [Journal Name], characterized a standard work schedule as commencing at 6 a.m. or later and concluding at 6 p.m. An evening work schedule began at 2 p.m. or later until midnight, while nighttime schedules involved shifts starting at 9 p.m. or later and ending by 8 a.m. Participants had “variable” schedules if they worked split or rotating shifts or irregular hours.
Dr. Wen-Jui Han, the sole author of the study and a professor at the Silver School of Social Work at New York University, highlighted, “About three-quarters of the work patterns we observed did not strictly adhere to working stably during daytime hours throughout our working years.” Han emphasized the repercussions of work patterns involving any level of volatility and variability, noting that individuals with such schedules were more prone to experiencing inadequate sleep, reduced sleep quality, diminished physical and mental functions, and a higher likelihood of reporting poor health and depressive symptoms by age 50 compared to those with stable standard work schedules.
Han also delved into how these associations varied based on social position, which encompasses race or ethnicity, gender, and education.
Despite the challenges posed by contemporary work schedules, health experts suggest strategies that individuals can employ to alleviate the negative impacts.
To evaluate work-shift challenges, Han utilized data from over 7,300 participants, with approximately 50% being White, 33% Black, and 19% Hispanic. These individuals were part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, a nationally representative sample of Americans surveyed at various intervals from ages 14 to 22.
Transitioning from early standard hours to volatile schedules between ages 22 and 49 was significantly linked to poorer health outcomes, according to Han’s findings. This pattern was also associated with reporting inferior health and depressive symptoms at age 50. The impact was comparable to having an education level below high school, and the effects of working volatile schedules surpassed those of being predominantly unemployed.
The study also identified race- and gender-related trends, such as the heightened probability of Black Americans having schedules associated with poorer health and women experiencing lower-quality sleep despite longer sleep durations.
While the report does not offer a comprehensive explanation for the disproportionate effects on women and Black individuals, it underscores the significant health disparities between those with resources and those without.
The study results, though not groundbreaking, are deemed timely and concerning by experts in the field. The evolution of technology and the gig economy, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, has led to a rise in nonstandard work schedules compared to previous decades.
Various potential theories could elucidate the findings, but experts caution that the study demonstrates association rather than causation.
Nonstandard schedules can disrupt essential lifestyle habits crucial for good health, such as adequate sleep, regular meals, and quality time with family and friends.
Individuals facing nonstandard work hours can employ strategies like maintaining a healthy diet, regular exercise, relaxation techniques, and social interactions to counterbalance the potential negative effects on health.
Optimizing sleeping conditions, refraining from late-night eating, scheduling routine health checkups, and seeking professional guidance when needed are additional steps individuals can take to safeguard their health and well-being despite the challenges posed by their employment patterns.