Psychological Impact of Shift Work

Abstract

Technology and globalization have been central forces driving the need for shift work. This review examines recent scientific developments that inform our understanding of how psychological process contribute to and are impacted by shift work. Nascent research is beginning to expand beyond circadian misalignment to elucidate the phenomenology of shift work and the associated psychological impairments. Psychological processes and their interaction with biology are considered in the pathophysiology of shift work sleep disorder. Additionally, a review of the adverse consequences of shift work in the cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial domains are reviewed and discussed. The phenomenology of shift work encompasses multiple domains of biopsychosocial functioning. As such, interventions to reduce the adverse impact of shift work may benefit from an integrated approach.