A new study from the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science at the University of Oxford, published in Social Science & Medicine, finds that night shift workers sleep less than non-shift workers – by about eight minutes per night on average. Though modest, this sleep loss accumulates over time and can have serious health effects.
The study of over 217,000 UK adults reveals that:
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Women lose more sleep than men, often due to caregiving and household duties.
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Parents are especially affected, while living with a partner offers little protection.
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Less-educated workers face greater sleep loss than higher-educated professionals.
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Irregular or rotating shifts cause more disruption than fixed night schedules.
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Geographic factors such as daylight variation also influence sleep duration.
Lead author Dr. Xuejie Ding emphasized that “night shift work is a complex biological and social disruption,” while Professor Melinda Mills noted that “sleep is a key link between work stress and health.”
The study calls for workplace and policy changes – such as predictable schedules and childcare support – to protect vulnerable groups.
Read the full article here.