A new study published in the journal PLOS One has shed light on the potential risks associated with working irregular shifts for young adults. The research was conducted by a researcher at New York University and used data from over 7,300 participants in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 to examine employment patterns starting at age 22 and their association with various health outcomes at age 50.
The study found that participants who worked night shifts or irregular hours in their 20s slept less and had worse quality of sleep compared to those who worked a standard 9 a.m.-5 p.m. schedule. As they aged, these workers were more likely to report feelings of depression, as well as poor health in middle age. Additionally, those with volatile work schedules were more likely to report poor health in middle age, regardless of their race or ethnicity.
Study author Wen-Jui Han commented on the results, stating that “Work, which is meant to provide resources for a decent life, has now become a vulnerability to a healthy life due to the increasing instability in work arrangements.” This highlights the importance of stable work schedules for maintaining good physical and mental health throughout one’s lifetime.
