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The relationship between health complaints and flexible 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 Profile. 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 significantly more health complaints, more problems related to their psychological performance, and more sleeping problems than a control group of workers with non-flexible work schedules. Patients working on temporary employment contracts reported significantly more problems with their psychological performance. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Martens et al. (Fri,) studied this question.