Mediating pathways and gender differences between shift work and subjective cognitive function

Abstract

Occupational health and safety programmes are needed to address stress and health factors, in addition to sleep hygiene, to effectively address cognitive function among shift workers.

Working Time Society consensus statements: Psychosocial stressors relevant to the health and wellbeing of night and shift workers

“…A recent path-modeling study reported job strain, which includes performance pace and intensity of work-related demands, to be a significant mediator of the relationship between shift schedules and sleep quality. Compared to day shift only employees, job strain was higher among permanent night and rotating shift workers, and this was significantly and indirectly associated with compromised sleep quality38 ) .…”

Does Shiftwork Impact Cognitive Performance? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)

“…To our knowledge, this is the first Canadian study confirming this association in a very large, representative, population-based sample using objective cognitive measures. Given that cognitive processes are regulated by the circadian rhythm [ 6 , 7 ], misaligned circadian rhythm may represent one of the potential mechanisms explaining this relationship. As shiftwork takes place outside regular daytime working hours, working against the natural sleep–wake cycle may disrupt the circadian rhythm, resulting in impaired cognition in the long term [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Shiftwork is associated with sleep loss [ 4 ] and the development of numerous health conditions which may be a product of disrupted circadian rhythms due to abnormal work hours [ 5 ]. As cognitive processes are regulated by the endogenous circadian clock [ 6 , 7 ], shiftwork may impair cognitive functioning as well [ 8 ]. Shiftwork has also been found to share common risk factors for cognitive impairment, including higher risks of social isolation, being overweight, and unhealthy lifestyles including smoking [ 9 ].…”

“…Chronic effects of shiftwork examined by a few population-based studies, as well as data from the Nurses’ Health Study, have generated conflicting findings [ 8 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. One Canadian study by Wong and colleagues [ 6 ] used a cross-sectional sample of 4255 Canadian workers and found significant effects of work stress and sleep quality on the relationship between shiftwork and subjective cognitive function.…”

“…Thus, the objectives of this study were to: (1) examine the association between shiftwork and cognitive performance and (2) explore whether psychological distress might moderate the relationship between shiftwork and cognitive performance. As males and females exhibit differences in health outcomes [ 6 ], we explored whether differences in sex existed in this relationship. We also investigated differences in retirement status as it has been found to be associated with cognitive impairment [ 19 ].…”