Internal locus of control and shiftwork effects

Abstract

A range of situational, biological and psychological individual differences have been suggested to modify the impact of shift and night work. This paper discusses the development and application of a construct firmly based in the psychological/behavioural domain. The overall aim is to offer a theoretical standpoint with practical implications. Locus of Control theory has an extensive research history. In line with the evolution of thinking about this construct in terms of application in a context-specific sense, this paper describes the origins of internally-oriented Shiftwork Locus of Control (SHLOC) and presents its relationships with typically reported shiftwork-related outcomes. The SHLOC measure has been shown to be psychometrically robust and has demonstrated consistent patterns of relationships with shiftwork related variables that include sleep quality, fatigue, alertness, interference with family and social life, psychological well-being and perceived stress. In general, higher shiftwork-specific internality is associated with more positive outcomes (e.g. better sleep quality, lower fatigue, higher alertness) than lower shiftwork-specific internality. These findings hold true across a range of shiftwork situations and occupational groups. The construct has practical potential as an addition to shiftworker monitoring procedures that may be used to identify those individuals who may be more susceptible to the negative effects of shiftworking and, thereby, could benefit from targeted intervention.