Night-Time Shift Work and Related Stress Responses: A Study on Security Guards

Emanuele Cannizzaro, Luigi Cirrincione, Walter Mazzucco, Alessandro Scorciapino, Cesare Catalano, Tiziana Ramaci, Caterina Ledda and Fulvio Plescia
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Emanuele Cannizzaro: Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Luigi Cirrincione: Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Walter Mazzucco: Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Alessandro Scorciapino: Department of Prevention, Area of Protection and Safety in the Workplace, Provincial Health Authority, 95124 Catania, Italy
Cesare Catalano: Department of Prevention, Area of Protection and Safety in the Workplace, Provincial Health Authority, 95124 Catania, Italy
Tiziana Ramaci: Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
Caterina Ledda: Clinical Pathology, ARNAS “Garibaldi”, 95123 Catania, Italy
Fulvio Plescia: Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care “Giuseppe D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, via del Vespro 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Work-related stress can induce a break in homeostasis by placing demands on the body that are met by the activation of two different systems, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Night-shift work alters the body’s exposure to the natural light–dark schedule and disrupts circadian (daily) rhythms. The greatest effect of night-shift work is the disruption of circadian rhythms. The impact that these disruptions may have on the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cancer, is unknown. This study aims to discover the relationship among three different job activities of security guards and their stress-related responses by evaluating salivary cortisol levels and blood pressure. Methods: Ninety security guards, including night-time workers and night-time and daily-shift workers, were recruited for this study. Each security guard provided two saliva samples before and after three scheduled time points: (i) at 22:00, (ii) at 06:30, and (iii) at 14:00. Results: The results of the study showed a significant alteration in cortisol levels. Night-time shift cortisol levels significantly increased before and after the work shifts. A physiological prevalence of the vagal tone on the cardiocirculatory activity was found during night-shift work. Conclusions: This study indicates that cortisol levels and blood pressure are sensitive markers of biological responses to severe work stress. Shift-change consequences may occur at the end of the night shift when there is a significant increase in the cortisol level and a significant variation in cardiovascular parameters.

Keywords: occupational stress; HPA axis activation; work-related stress; anxiety-like behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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