A prospective study of seasonal variation in shift-work tolerance

Seasonal effects on shift-work tolerance were assessed using the Standardized Shiftwork Index and the 21-item Hamilton Depression Scale. Participants (N=88) mainly worked a two-day, two-night, four-off rotation with 12h shifts changing at 06:00 and 18:00h in Vancouver, Canada. At this latitude (similar to 49 degrees N), daylength varies seasonally from similar to 16 to similar to 8h, and both daily commutes occur in the dark in mid-winter and in sunlight in mid-summer. Questionnaires were completed twice, near the summer and winter solstices (order counterbalanced). Outcome variables were mood, general psychological health, sleep quality, chronic fatigue, physical health, job satisfaction, and social and domestic disruption. Of these, general psychological health and mood were significantly worse in winter, while sleep was more disturbed in summer. In winter, 31% exceeded the cutoff for psychological distress, and >70% scored in the higher than normal range for depressive symptoms. In summer, the proportions dropped to 19% and 53%, respectively. Measures of physical health and psychosocial well-being showed no seasonal effects. Relationships among explanatory and outcome variables, assessed by linear regression and canonical correlations, were also stable across season. Neuroticism was the strongest predictor of tolerance to shift work. Age was predictive only of sleep disturbance in both summer and winter. These results indicate that time of year can affect important outcome measures in shift-work assessment and intervention studies. The high average scores on measures of psychological distress and depression in winter suggest that at northern latitudes, some shift schedules may increase the risk of seasonal-type depression.