(in German)

Health consequences of shift work have been investigated intensively, while there is a lack of research on social consequences of shift work, although social consequences have been discussed as a reason for health consequences of shift work. In this present study, we investigate the association between compatibility of work and private life and health status of shift workers compared to employees with regular working hours in a mediation analyses. To do so, we applied data from the German representative BIBB/BAuA employment survey 2018. Employees in shift work showed more often difficulties in the compatibility of work and private life and psychosomatic complaints than employees with regular working hours. The compatibility of work and private life partially mediated the relationship between shift work and psychosomatic complaints. This was the case for men and women. Our results support the importance of social consequences of shift work, one of the possible causes for negative health consequences of shift work.

Practical Relevance: Shift workers face more often difficulties in balancing the demands of the areas of work and family life. This conflict has health consequences. The knowledge of this risk is of practical relevance, because companies could explicitly target the compatibility of work and private life in interventions of workplace health promotion or in the regular organization of working time. Leaders and shift workers should be aware that difficulties in the compatibility of work and private life are an important stressor.

Please download the article "Shift work, compatibility of work and private life and psychosomatic health complaints - A mediation analysis with the BIBB/BAuA employment survey 2018" (in German only).