Cross-Sectional Comparison of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep in Shift and Non-Shift Workers Using Wrist and Thigh Accelerometers

Objective Investigate differences in device-measured physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep between shift and non-shift workers, focusing on variations during work and leisure periods. Methods Full-time employed adult participants from Newcastle, Australia, wore thigh and wrist accelerometers for 14 days to assess activity and sleep. Activity was classified into sedentary, standing, light-intensity physical activity (LIPA), and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Linear mixed models and compositional data analysis were employed to assess behavioural time allocation. Results Forty-nine participants (shift = 33, non-shift = 16) completed the study. During work periods, shift workers were less sedentary ( −79.40 minutes, p = 0.031) and engaged more in LIPA (+39.95 minutes, p = 0.044), but were more sedentary during leisure (+93.59 minutes, p = 0.019). Conclusions Distinct differences during work and leisure highlight the need for domain-specific analysis.