Review article

ADJUSTMENT TO NIGHT SHIFT WORK

Mladen Martinis
Ljuba Škovrlj
Vesna Mikuta-Martinis

Abstract

Night workers' daily biological rhythms are slow to adjust to the unnatural schedules of work and sleep. Night work diminishes the quality of life and frequently causes serious threat to health and safety. Disturbances in the daily circadian rhythms may result in multiple negative symptoms such as poor performance and diminished alertness during the night shift and poor sleep in the daytime. Presented in the paper are health and safety problems related to the im(possibility) of the circadian rhythms to adjust to night work and to sleeping in the daytime. Key circadian rhythm principles are described, responsible for the adjustment to shift work. These principles are helpful in designing a suitable work and sleep schedule in order to speed up the circadian adjustment to night work. In conclusion, the role of the individual and his personality in the circadian adjustment to night work or shift work is given.

Keywords

shift work; circadian rhythms; sleep disorders; adjustment

Hrčak ID:

13403

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/13403

Publication date:

1.7.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 2.832 *