A Huazhong University study has examined how shift work affects people's mental health, specifically depression and anxiety.
The researchers studied over 175,000 workers in the UK from 2006 to 2010 finding that shift workers had a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety, especially if they performed shift work frequently.
They also discovered lifestyle factors like smoking, sedentary time, body weight, and sleep duration played a role in this connection.
Researchers conclude shift work should be seen as a potential risk to mental health and suggest public health interventions be developed that promote healthy lifestyles to improve the mental health of individuals who perform shift work.
Access the study in full. Learn more about the health effects of shiftwork