The Effects of Shift Work on Family Satisfaction

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the impact of shift work (work performed during nonstandard hours) on the family relationships of shift workers. The author examined secondary 1997 data from the Families and Work Institute's National Study of the Changing Workforce ( N = 3,552), and analyzed the differences in level of satisfaction with one's family (family satisfaction; FS) between shift workers and people who worked standard hours. Results demonstrated that working a nonstandard, nonflexible shift was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of FS, particularly for evening and night shifts. Although the total number of hours worked was not associated with FS, preferring to work fewer hours decreased the probability of reporting high FS. Job autonomy was another strong predictor of FS. Future research should include longitudinal studies to examine the long-term impact of shift work on families.