Compatibility between Shift Work and Chronotype in Indonesian Air Traffic Control’ Workers: View of Performance and Mental Workload

Abstract

Shift work is commonly found in modern industries. Shift work arrangement is problematic since working in the out of normal work is giving negative consequences. Therefore, attempts have been made to optimize shift work arrangement and to minimize the negative consequences. One approach that has been used as a base in arrange shift work is chronotype, defined as individual preferences about their sleepiness work and is partially determined by clock genes. This present study aimed to observe the effect of chronotype on shift work arrangement, from the view of performance and mental workload. 25 Air Traffic Control/ATC workers work in three shift involve in this study. Chronotype was assessed once work by Munich Chronotype Questionnaire. The performance was assessed based on sleepiness (using Karolinska Sleepiness scale) and alertness (using alertometer) in the end of each shift for every ATC worker. Separate mixed ANOVA was applied in analyzing the result. This study reveals that people work in a shift work that is compatible with the chronotype perceive significant lower mental workload, slightly better alertness and slightly lower sleepiness than people work in a shift work that is not compatible with the chronotype. The implication of the result is discussed.