Flexible work schedules and mental and physical health. A study of a working population with non-traditional working hours

✍ Scribed by M. F. J. Martens; F. J. N. Nijhuis; M. P. J. Van Boxtel; J. A. Knottnerus

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 122 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-3796
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1379(199901)20:1<35::aid-job879>3.0.co;2-z

✦ Synopsis

The relationship between health complaints and ¯exible work schedules was studied in a patient population selected by general practitioners. Four hundred and eighty patients between 20 and 60 years, currently employed or on sick leave, completed questionnaires which compiled data on their work situation, subjective physical health, psychological well-being, and quality of sleep. Subjective health measurements were performed by using the 21-item Subjective Health Questionnaire (VOEG). Psychological well-being was measured by applying a selection of the Sickness Impact Pro®le. Duration and quality of sleep were measured through a selection of the Groningen Sleep Scale. Patients working rotating shifts, compressed weeks, and irregularly changing hours showed signi®cantly more health complaints, more problems related to their psychological performance, and more sleeping problems than a control group of workers with non-¯exible work schedules. Patients working on temporary employment contracts reported signi®cantly more problems with their psychological performance.