Introduction: Numerous studies indicate that night shift work negatively impacts health and performance.
Work during times designated for rest, and sleeping during periods intended for wakefulness,
conflicts with human diurnal physiology, which is regulated in part by the circadian
clock. This misalignment results in sleep deprivation, increased sleepiness, decreased
performance, and impaired health and quality of life for shift workers. Although studies
conducted in controlled environments suggest that managing exposure to light and darkness
can alleviate these problems, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of such
interventions under real-world working conditions.
Methods: We recruited two samples (N = 24 and N = 38) of rotating night-shift workers from two different transportation companies
located in the northern Chile. Demographic information such as age, years working
night shifts, medication use, commuting times, sleep quality, and quantity were assessed
using the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire and Sleep Diaries. Regression analyses were
conducted to evaluate associations between demographic variables and sleep outcomes,
specifically examining how these factors influence sleep quality and quantity during
night shifts.
Results: Preliminary findings indicate reduced sleep quality among workers from both samples,
suggesting widespread circadian disruption. In addition, workers reported substantial
commuting times from their homes to their workplace, highlighting an additional factor
that may contribute to sleep deficits. Regression analysis revealed a significant
positive correlation between years performing night shifts and total sleep hours achieved
during night shifts, suggesting adaptive or compensatory mechanisms whose effectiveness
increases with experience.
Conclusion: Our study confirms significant sleep disturbances and circadian disruptions among
night-shift workers. The observed relationship between years spent working night shifts
and sleep duration highlights potential adaptive mechanisms worth further exploration.
These insights are crucial for developing targeted interventions to improve night
shift workers' health and well-being. Support: The authors would like to thank the
CINV and the VRII from Universidad de Valparaíso for their technical support in the
execution of this project. We also would like to thank to the Agencia Nacional de
Investigación y Desarrollo, Proyecto Idea ID22I10053 (to JE) and Concurso Subvención
a la Instalaciónen la Academia 85220042 (to LBG) as our funding sources.
