Diurnal cortisol pattern of shift workers on a workday and a day off

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Björn Karlson
  • Frida Carlsson Eek
  • Hansen, Åse Marie
  • Anne Helene Garde
  • Kai Österberg
  • Palle Øbæk

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine how the diurnal rhythm of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is affected by a fast forward-rotating 24-hour shift schedule and to explore possible relationships with self-reported health, sleep-related problems, and recovery-related problems. Methods: Shift workers on their morning (N=45) or afternoon (N=32) shift were compared with daytime workers (N=39) from the same worksite and with an external daytime working reference group with early (N=50) or late (N=130) waking. Cortisol in saliva was sampled at waking, after 30 minutes, after 8 hours, and at 2100 on a daytime workday for all of the groups and also on a day off for the shift workers. Sleep and subjective health complaints were assessed with a questionnaire. Results: The morning shift workers showed a deviant cortisol pattern over the workday, with a lower cortisol level at waking and a lower morning peak level. The morning and afternoon shift workers did not differ with respect to the cortisol level on the day off. The shift workers also reported lower self-rated health and more problems with sleep and recovery. Conclusions: The results suggest that a partial adaptation of the circadian cortisol rhythm to night work does not re-adjust during 4 days off, and hence the early waking on morning shift days occurs during an earlier phase of the diurnal cortisol rhythm than for daytime workers waking up at similar hours. The results may contribute to the understanding of reduced alertness during morning shifts and have implications for the planning of, and adaptation to, shift schedules.

Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, Supplement
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)27-34
Number of pages8
ISSN0356-6528
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2006

    Research areas

  • Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire, Shift work, Sleep, Swedish occupational fatigue inventory

ID: 199723540