Sleep disturbances in shift-workers: A marker for maladaptation syndrome

Abstract The present study investigates the association between sleep disturbances in shift workers and their general adaptation to the shift system. Three hundred and sixteen refinery, and 55 aluminium factory shift-workers participated in this study. In both plants, sleep disturbances were significantly associated with age, with dissatisfaction with working conditions and the quality of domestic life, with increased morbidity and increased high blood pressure. The association between high blood pressure and morbidity and sleep disturbances remained significant after adjusting for age. Shift workers complaining about their sleep also had higher blood pressure values than day workers with sleep disturbances. These findings suggest that periodic evaluation of sleep quality in rotating shift workers can provide useful information regarding their general adaptation level to the shift system.