Shiftwork Duration and the Awakening Cortisol Response Among Police Officers

Waking cortisol levels were lower among officers working short-term night or afternoon shifts compared to those on day shifts.

• Cortisol is produced in response to stress and may indicate disease risk.
• The study involved 68 police officers examining long- and short-term shiftwork effects on cortisol awakening response.
• Officers' shiftwork patterns included day, afternoon, and night shifts over a mean duration of 14 years.
• Maximal differences in cortisol levels were observed after 5 days of working short-term night or afternoon shifts.
• Long-term shiftwork duration did not correlate with cortisol awakening response, though more career shift changes were linked to lower values.

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