Session Schedule

Find a specific presentation in the session by navigating to the timestamp indicated below.

0:00:00
Transitioning into shift work: Sleep and mental health challenges in new shift workers in Australia
Alexander Wolkow (Australia)

0:23:20
The impact of short rest periods between shifts (e.g., quick returns) on sickness absence, sleep, sleepiness and work-related fatigue
Ingebjørg LR Djupedal (Norway)

0:43:30
How start times and recovery periods determine sleep duration in shift workers
John Axelsson (Sweden)

1:05:24
Combining behavioral and circadian approaches to improve sleep and mental health in shift workers
Annie Vallières (Canada)

Summary

About 20% of all employees work outside daytime hours, commonly referred to as shift work. Shift work is associated with several negative health outcomes, and in this symposium, we will focus on challenges and treatment options for this large group of workers. The symposium will present novel findings from large-scale studies and address future perspectives.

Wolkow will talk about how poor sleep and mental health change in new shift workers during the transition into shift work. Shift work is considered a major source of stress that often leads to poor mental health, and in new shift workers the transition into these schedules during the first year of work is particularly demanding. However, it is unclear when after starting shift work these changes occur, and whether poor sleep pre-shift work increases the risk of future mental health symptoms. Drawing on recent findings from a large longitudinal study in recruit emergency personnel, Wolkow will highlight how insomnia and depression symptoms emerge in the initial months of shift work, while sleep disturbances pre-shift work represent early risk factors for the development of poor mental health in these new shift workers. Interventions before beginning shift work are therefore needed to promote better shift work tolerance and reduce the risk of poor mental health.

Axelsson will present data and models of how shift work characteristics predict sleep duration, with focus on individual differences. While sleep is tightly regulated by biological processes, (i.e., sleep homeostasis and the circadian system), we know less of factors determining sleep duration in shift work. We merged data from 20 field studies to determine how sleep duration is predicted by the recovery time between shifts, the start time of shifts, as well as how many individuals received sufficient sleep. The findings include that recovery times between work shifts strongly predicted sleep duration prior to evening- and night shifts, and less prior to morning shifts. Instead sleep duration prior morning shifts was primarily predicted by the start time of morning shifts. This talk will also present a model estimating how many individuals who will obtain sufficient sleep (e.g., at least 6 hours) on average, with regard to recovery times and start times of shifts.

Djupedal will present results from a large randomized controlled trial among hospital workers. The trial evaluated the effectiveness and cost-benefit of reducing quick returns, e.g., less than 11 hours rest periods between successive shifts. Such quick returns are very common among health personnel in Scandinavia. The findings were reduced sickness absence, improved sleep and daytime function. She will also present data on the cost-benefit of such an intervention.

Vallières’ presentation will consider the many facets of shift work and focus on interventions tailored to individuals. Specifically, she will discuss behavioral interventions for insomnia combined with circadian approaches to enhance the sleep and mental health of shift workers. The presentation will emphasize the unique needs of shift workers compared to day workers with insomnia and outline a future research agenda for treatment.