Working outside the traditional 9-5 shift can cause midlife health risks

Non-standard work schedules like switching between morning, evening, or night shifts can be detrimental to health as people grow older, a new study showed. 

Researchers analyzed data from over 7,000 Americans in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979, following them for 30 years, to understand how these work patterns throughout a career affect health in midlife. 

The author of the report, Wen-Jui Han of New York University, used data from the survey to look at how work patterns starting at age 22 were linked to sleep quality and quantity, physical and mental health at age 50, and the likelihood of reporting poor health and depression.

The analysis revealed diverse work patterns: 26% maintained stable standard hours, while 35% mostly worked standard schedules. Interestingly, 17% transitioned from standard hours in their 20s to volatile schedules (evenings, nights, and variable hours) later, and 12% went from standard hours to variable hours. Finally, 10% primarily didn’t work during this period.

The negative effect of an atypical work schedule was most pronounced for those who switched from stable to volatile schedules in their 30s, with an impact comparable to having less than a high school education. 

The study found significant associations between various social factors and sleep/health outcomes. These factors included age, education, marital status, health limitations, and socioeconomic background (welfare use, poverty experience). Interestingly, gender and race did not directly impact self-reported poor health.

Non-Hispanic Black Americans, for example, were more likely to experience health problems associated with volatile work schedules, highlighting unequal burdens.

People in disadvantaged social positions, such as non-Hispanic Black workers and those with lower education, are more likely to be stuck in these work schedules. This double burden makes it especially hard for them to maintain good health in midlife due to the negative effects.

On the contrary, the research observed that white men with a college degree and stable standard hours had the lowest risk of poor health.

Other individuals in vulnerable social positions, like women, those with lower education, or those with health limitations reported poorer sleep quality and lower physical/mental health scores. They were also more likely to report poor health and depressive symptoms.

Women reported more sleep hours but lower sleep quality compared to men. Conversely, Black respondents reported less sleep than Whites but with better perceived quality.