0289 Affect and Affective Personality during a Simulated First Night Shift

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Shiftwork contributes to work-related stress and chronic partial sleep deprivation. A first night shift can be particularly problematical for many workers since they are required to adjust to working at night following a period of sleeping at night. Part of this adjustment involves emotional stability and reactivity including affect. The purpose of this study is to examine how affect and a related construct, affective personality, changes during a simulated first night shift. Methods Ninety undergraduate students, 60 males and 30 females (22.1 ± 3.0 years), participated in a simulated first night shift. As part of the night shift, the participants completed the PANAS test (using the cue: how they felt lately) assessing positive and negative affect four times during the simulated shift (6:30 pm, 10:30 pm, 3 am, 7:30 am). The PANAS data were grouped using median split values from the 6:30 pm survey into high and low positive and negative affect groups to represent four categories of affective personality (Self-Actualizing: high positive, low negative; High Affective: high positive, high negative; Self-Destructive: low positive, high negative; Low Affective: low positive, low negative). Results A 2x4 ANOVA found significant changes across the night for affect (p<.0001), a significant difference between positive and negative affect (p<.0001), and a significant interaction (p<.0001) with positive affect decreasing during the night but negative affect remaining stable. A Friedman Test found significant changes in affective personality across the night (p<.0001) with decreasing occurrences of Self-Actualizing and High Affective but increasing occurrences of Self-Destructive and Low Affective personality types. Conclusion These findings suggest that positive affect decreases during a first night shift which could reduce workers’ competence resulting in more performance errors and potential safety hazards. The change in affective personality suggests that these groupings are not personality traits but instead could be considered affective personality states. Managers and organizations should anticipate decreases in the positive affective personality states during a first night shift and may find that workers will be less adaptive and efficient. Support (If Any) This research funded in part by the Creative Inquiry Program at Clemson University.