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Psychological Impact of Shift Work

  • Sleep and Psychological Disorders (DT Plante, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Technology and globalization have been central forces driving the need for shift work. This review examines recent scientific developments that inform our understanding of how psychological processes contribute to and are impacted by shift work.

Recent Findings

Nascent research is beginning to expand beyond circadian misalignment to elucidate the phenomenology of shift work and the associated psychological impairments. Psychological processes and their interaction with biology are considered in the pathophysiology of shift work sleep disorder. Additionally, a review of the adverse consequences of shift work in the cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial domains are reviewed and discussed.

Summary

The phenomenology of shift work encompasses multiple domains of biopsychosocial functioning. As such, interventions to reduce the adverse impact of shift work may benefit from an integrated approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Henry Ford Health System, 39450 West 12 Mile Road, Novi, MI, 48377, USA

    Philip Cheng & Christopher L. Drake

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  1. Philip Cheng
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  2. Christopher L. Drake
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Correspondence to Philip Cheng.

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Conflict of Interest

Philip Cheng and Christopher L Drake declare no conflicts of interest.

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This article does contain studies with human subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sleep and Psychological Disorders

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Cheng, P., Drake, C.L. Psychological Impact of Shift Work. Curr Sleep Medicine Rep 4, 104–109 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-018-0114-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40675-018-0114-7

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