The impact of shift work on mental health measured by GHQ-30: a comparative study

Background: Shift work has been associated with adverse physiological and psychological effects.Objective: To estimate associations between mental health and demanding work schedules (rotating shift) among nurses.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses. 422 nurses were included in analyses, of whom 261 (62%) were women and 161 (38%) were men. The General Health Questionnaire 30-items (GHQ-30) was used to measure mental distress, Health Risk Behaviors scale used to measure Life-style behavior, and Generic Job Satisfaction scale to measure level of job satisfaction.Results: In linear regression, adjusted mental distress symptoms were significantly more prevalent among rotating shift workers (+ 4.1 units, p = 0.002)than fixed day-workers.Men reported less distress (-2.2 units, p = 0.04) than women. Effects on mental health from rotating shift were moderated by job satisfaction.Conclusions: In this study, men had less overall mental distress than did women, but seemed to be more prone to mental distress reactions in association with rotating shifts. High job satisfaction moderated the mental distress associated with shift work.