Sleep disturbances and depressive symptoms of shift workers: Effects of shift schedules

Among 6,654 adults, shift workers reported higher scores in sleep quality and depression metrics than non-shift workers.

• Shift workers had higher scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale compared to non-shift workers.
• Fixed evening and night shift workers, along with regularly and irregularly rotating shift workers, showed elevated scores on sleep quality and depression measures compared to non-shift workers.
• Irregular shift workers had higher sleep quality and depression scores than those on regularly rotating shifts.
• Higher levels of sleepiness were linked to increased depressive symptoms among shift workers, with this effect being more pronounced than in non-shift workers.
• Fixed night shifts were associated with greater sleep disturbances compared to fixed evening shifts.

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