A recent study published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports has found that shift work may impair cognitive function. This means that people who work night shifts, or those that frequently alternate between day and night shifts, may have difficulty concentrating and performing cognitive tasks.
The study included approximately 3,000 participants from a variety of industries who had to take cognitive tests on their cognitive skills, such as memory, verbal and numerical reasoning, as well as their overall wellbeing. The researchers discovered that those who worked shifts, either day or night, showed a decrease in their cognitive skills compared to those in the control group who were not assigned to a shift.
The researchers suggest that the cause of this cognitive impairment could be attributed to the interference of the circadian rhythm. When a person’s circadian rhythm is disrupted by shift work, their ability to concentrate and focus on tasks could be affected.
The study also suggests that sleep deprivation may also play a role in this decline of cognitive performance. It could be that working night shifts disrupts a person’s sleep, which has further implications for their cognitive functioning.
These findings are particularly concerning, given the growing prevalence of shift work across a range of industries. Therefore, the authors have suggested that employers should consider implementing measures to reduce shift work, such as allowing employees to take rotating days off or providing other support systems that can improve workers’ wellbeing.
Ultimately, this study serves to further highlight the importance of employers providing a healthy working environment for their employees. The authors also recommend that further research should be conducted to evaluate the effects of shift work on mental health and wellbeing in different contexts.