Shit Work

Shift Work

Shift Work

Introduction

Rapid changes in the working environment due to industrialization have placed great demand on organizations to increase productivity and consumer satisfaction. Because these goals can be achieved through the efforts and cooperation of workers, there is a growing recognition of the fundamental importance of the workplace and its effects on the well-being and health of workforce. Among most of the commonly measured long-term manifestations of stress are self reported psychosomatic complaints, psychiatric symptoms or complaints about well-being. The reviews provide evidence of the association between job stressors and impaired psychological functioning as evidenced by mental ill health, mental health, physical symptoms, anxiety and depression and indicators of personal functioning (White and Keith, 2008). Recent investigators in the area of organizational psychology have emphasized research that would examine the combined effects of both job and personal life pressure on workers mental health and physical. The level of stress that is experienced depends not only on personal and work-related factors but also on the precise schedule being worked.

Health Consequences of Shift Work

Today a large segment of the working population is working in some form of shift system. This percentage is increasing day by day because of an increase in unemployment. Being forced to work in schedules that people are uncomfortable with because of economic necessity means that shift work can no longer be something that people would opt for themselves. There are three main factors associated with the negative health of shift workers (particularly night shift workers). These involve sleep, social and family life and circadian rhythms. They are interrelated such that failure in any one can nullify any positive effects accrued from the success of others. Studies have shown that shift work and work in the night are different to the individual system. This clash makes numerous psychosocial and psychological dilemmas to the shift workers such as sleep disturbances, anxiety, psychosomatic symptoms, mood disturbances and depressive states (Wickens, 2000). In a more comprehensive study, Costa (1996) reported that shift work disturbs the circadian rhythm of physiological functions (White and Keith, 2008).



Gender and Shift Work

There is a paucity of research literature on the gender differences pertaining to the consequences of shift work. Little research has been undertaken to study the influence of gender on work schedules. The few available studies related to gender differences and shift work schedules consistently focus their attention on the demographic factors related to shift work. The marital status and the presence of children affect the likelihood of women working at non-standard schedules but have no effect on men. Therefore, shift work creates excessive work-family conflict for women. Although gender differences between men and women were found on demographics of shift work, shift work has been found to be deteriorating for both men and women (Wickens, 2000). As far as health effects of shift work are concerned, similar results were found for both men and women.

Objectives of the Study

The specific objectives of the study are:

1. To examine and compare the extent of stress, mood ...