Working Time Society consensus statements: Individual differences in shift work tolerance and recommendations for research and practice

Abstract

There is no standard definition of shift work universally, and no validated report of complete biological adjustment to shift work in workers. Similarly, the evidence for shift work tolerance is limited due to a small number of studies and a narrow range of outcome measures. This paper discusses evidence to date regarding individual differences in shift work tolerance and highlights areas for future research and recommendations for workplace practice. The few factors that are consistently associated with perceived or actual shift work tolerance are young age, low scores of morningness or being a late chronotype, low scores of languidity and neuroticism, high scores on extraversion, internal locus of control and flexibility and male sex. An important first step is to differentiate between factors that are potentially modifiable, such as those that are determined by lifestyle choices, and those factors specific to the working time arrangement. Identifying determinants of shift work tolerance and the ability to adjust to shift work, whether they are innate and/ or acquired mechanisms, is important so workers who are less likely to tolerate shift work well can be self-identified and supported with appropriate harm/risk minimization strategies. This paper also identifies important areas for future research with the goal of increasing the evidence base on which we can develop evidence-based harm mitigation strategies for shift workers.

A case‐crossover study of age group differences in objective working‐hour characteristics and short sickness absence

“…Working‐hour characteristics may also change according to seniority and possibilities to select more favourable working hours (Hess, Bauknecht, & Pink, 2018; Vanajan, Bultmann, & Henkens, 2019). This could explain some earlier negative results on age‐related trends in the association of shift work and health (Booker, Magee, Rajaratnam, Sletten, & Howard, 2018; Ritonja, Aronson, Matthews, Boivin, & Kantermann, 2019). The earlier negative results on the association of shift work and sickness absence may also be due to lack of detailed information on working‐hour characteristics (Ropponen et al, 2019).…”

Enhanced Circadian Entrainment in Mice and Its Utility under Human Shiftwork Schedules

“…Mechanisms underlying sex differences in entrainment flexibility in our studies have not yet been investigated. Other individual differences in humans that correlate with shiftwork tolerance include chronotype, age, family structure, and certain personality traits [44]. Awareness of these individual differences, however, has not yet resulted in individualized or actionable solutions to aid shiftworkers.…”

Labour and other lethal effects of sleeplessness

“…Departamento de Salud. cuencia se mencionan, el problema podría estar más relacionado con la edad que con la menopausia natural 7 , e influido por tareas de cuidados familiares que coinciden temporalmente en estas edades.…”

“…La especial sensibilidad de algunos trabajadores 7 , sumado a la mayor presencia de población envejecida que va a permanecer aún durante muchos años en su puesto de trabajo, hace imperativa la toma de estas medidas.…”