Psychosocial Impact of Night Shift Work among Nurses in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: A considerable number of studies have identified psychological and social difficulties resulting from night shift work among nurses. However, studies of the risk factors of experiencing the psychological and social impact of night shift work among hospital nurses is crucial but lacking. This study aimed to investigate the psychological and social effects of night shift work and the associated factors among nurses in Saudi Arabia (SA). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive survey carried out from May to July 2017 among nurses working night shifts in public hospitals in all regions of SA. The data were collected through online or paper-based self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the predictors of experiencing the psychological and social impact of night shift work. Results: A total of 1521 nurses completed the survey. The overall median psychological effect score was 14.0 (maximum 20). A total of 88.2% (1341/1521) of the participants reported a psychological impact due to night shift work. The overall median social effect score was 15.0 (maximum 20). A total of 90.9% (1383/1521) of the participants reported a social impact due to night shift work. Being a female nurse, a Saudi or Filipino national, being involved in rotating or fixed night shift work, dislike or occasional dislike for night shift work, and having had 6-10 weeks or over 20 weeks of night shift work in the preceding year were independent predictors of having a psychological impact due to night shift work. Furthermore, being involved in rotating night shift work, dislike or occasional dislike for night shift work, and having had over 20 weeks of night shift work in the preceding year were independent predictors of having a social impact due to night shift work. Conclusion: There was a high psychosocial impact of night shift work among nurses in the study setting. The development of incentives and support structures for nurses involved in night shift work is recommended.

Fatigue and the Female Nurse: A Narrative Review of the Current State of Research and Future Directions

“…). 19–21 For instance, Alsharari 22 recently reported that female nurses were at a greater risk for having psychosocial difficulties compared to male nurses, and Sundin et al 23 showed that having small children was associated with burnout in nurses, which would most likely have a stronger impact on female compared to male nurses given their more often primary caretaker role with young children. However, despite nursing being a female dominated profession, little progress has been made in mitigating fatigue that may result from the domestic and workplace inequity exhibited by female nursing workers compared to their male counterparts.…”

Occupational Fatigue and Associated Factors among Saudi Nurses Working 8-Hour Shifts at Public Hospitals

“…Studies conducted in the KSA mainly reported a negative impact of the night shift on nurses’ performance, patient safety, and psychosocial well-being ( Almajwal, 2016 ; Alsharari, 2019 ; Alsharari et al, 2021 ). In this respect and given that no cited study investigated the difference in fatigue level according to shift hours in the Saudi context, further investigation is needed to determine whether fatigue and recovery are different among 8-hours and 12-h shifts and influencing factors among Saudi nurses.…”

“…Empirical research has examined fatigue associated with nurses’ job characteristics ( Zhou & Fang, 2015 ), quality of sleep ( Rizky, 2018 ), psychosocial factors ( Alsharari, 2019 ; Rahman et al, 2016 ), job conditions, occupational stress, emotional intelligence ( Huang et al, 2019 ), and recovery in 12-h dayshifts ( Clendon & Gibbons, 2015 ). Other studies have reported the adverse effects of night shift work on the physiological status of nurses, including anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders, stress, development of obesity due to poor eating habits ( Books et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2018 ), fatigue, family problems, and decreased job and life satisfaction ( Abdulah et al, 2020 ).…”

“…Other studies have reported the adverse effects of night shift work on the physiological status of nurses, including anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders, stress, development of obesity due to poor eating habits ( Books et al, 2020 ; Liu et al, 2018 ), fatigue, family problems, and decreased job and life satisfaction ( Abdulah et al, 2020 ). Studies conducted in the KSA also investigated the impact of night shift rotations on nurses’ performance, patient safety, psychosocial impact, among nurses ( Almajwal, 2016 ; Alsharari, 2019 ; Alsharari et al, 2021 ). However, occupational fatigue and recovery process on rotational shift work remains a significant concern that causes psychological and social difficulties for nurses ( Alsharari, 2019 ; Rahman et al, 2016 ), especially Saudi nurses.…”

“…Studies conducted in the KSA also investigated the impact of night shift rotations on nurses’ performance, patient safety, psychosocial impact, among nurses ( Almajwal, 2016 ; Alsharari, 2019 ; Alsharari et al, 2021 ). However, occupational fatigue and recovery process on rotational shift work remains a significant concern that causes psychological and social difficulties for nurses ( Alsharari, 2019 ; Rahman et al, 2016 ), especially Saudi nurses.…”