Field studies of shift work at an Austrian oil refinery. I: Health and psychosocial wellbeing of workers who drop out of shiftwork.

Abstract

Most of the problems that arise in shift workers prove to be social or family-bound rather than strictly medical, though health may in fact be affected seriously by these problems. The present study was concerned with the question whether, and in what way, men giving up shift work (‘ drop-outs ’) differ from those who stay on shift work, and from those on permanent day work. A questionnaire containing items about personal, family, and social life, and health, working conditions, and sleep was given to 270 workers in an oil refinery. All respondents were subsequently interviewed. Taking all the results together it is concluded that shift and night work leads, in a proportion of cases, to difficulties with regard to work and family life, as well as in social and health matters. The results from the ‘drop-outs’ group indicate that in certain individuals very long lasting ‘ psychosomatic’, ‘pseudoneurotic’ or ‘sensitisation’ reactions may develop.