Tolerance to shift work—how does it relate to sleep and wakefulness?

There is limited knowledge as to why some individuals tolerate shift work and others do not. As a consequence of their intolerance, many individuals develop dissatisfaction with their shift schedule. To evaluate if dissatisfaction with one’s shift system was related to alterations of the daily pattern of sleep and sleepiness, we followed two groups of shift workers that were either highly satisfied or dissatisfied with their shift schedule, during an entire shift cycle.

Thirty-six male and 20 female shift workers were selected according to their satisfaction with their shift schedule. The shift cycle included seven work periods (“triads” of shifts; night shift—afternoon shift—morning shift), with only 8–9 hours off (quick returns) between shifts, but followed by a day off.

Sleep length was reduced after night shifts (4.8 h) and afternoon shifts (5.4 h). Sleepiness was increased during all shifts, particularly night shifts. Sleepiness did not accumulate across the shift cycle even though sleepiness was slightly increased directly after the last triad of shifts. There were few significant gender differences. Dissatisfied shift workers reached much higher levels of sleepiness and reported less sufficient sleep, but not objectively poorer or shorter sleep. Amongst dissatisfied workers, this resulted in an increase of sleepiness problems across shifts within the triad of shifts. Dissatisfied workers also had more performance lapses at the end of the night shift.

Satisfaction with the shift schedule seems to reflect how well the shift workers were coping with the schedule. It is suggested that the increase of sleep/wake problems within the work period for the dissatisfied shift workers is related to increased sensitivity to curtailed and displaced sleep.