A recent study conducted at New York University has shed light on the negative effects of irregular work shifts on young adults’ sleep patterns, physical and mental health, and overall well-being. Using data from over 7,300 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 over a span of more than 30 years, researchers examined how employment patterns starting at age 22 could impact these various aspects of life.
The results showed that participants who worked irregular shifts or night shifts in their 20s tended to sleep less and worse compared to those with a typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. As the participants reached age 50, those who had worked irregular hours were more likely to report feelings of depression and poor health, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Interestingly, black participants were more likely to have this type of schedule, which raises concerns about the potential for systemic bias in work arrangements that may disproportionately affect marginalized groups. The author of the study, Wen-Jui Han, expressed concern that work has become a vulnerability to a healthy life due to the increasingly precarious nature of work arrangements.
The study was published online in the journal PLOS One.