Association between shift work and eating behaviours, sleep quality, and mental health among Italian workers

Shift workers exhibited lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared to non-shift workers (7.6 ± 2.3 vs 8.1 ± 2.2).

• Shift workers reported significantly poorer sleep quality, with a mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of 7.6 ± 3.7, compared to 5.8 ± 3.0 for non-shift workers.
• Higher levels of anxiety and stress symptoms were observed among shift workers.
• Evening chronotypes among shift workers had lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet than those with morning chronotypes.
• Night shift workers experienced more sleep disturbances than day shift workers.
• No significant differences were found in daily energy, macronutrient, or micronutrient intake between shift and non-shift workers.

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