Abstract

The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of past and current rotating shift assignments on U.S. law enforcement officers’ health outcomes. In a nationally representative sample of 2,867 officers, with an oversample of female officers, we estimated models of sleep quality and fatigue, physical health outcomes, and psychological health outcomes. Further, we examined individual and agency-level factors associated with officers who reported currently working a rotating shift, to investigate what patterns there may be in shift assignments. A history of rotating shift assignments was positively associated with lower sleep quality, and with hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, but not with gastrointestinal disorders, perceived stress, emotional well-being, or suicidality. The associations of shiftwork with health outcomes did not vary by gender. Demographic characteristics did not predict current rotating shift assignments, but a longer history of shiftwork and more working hours did predict a current shift assignment. Attention to mitigating shift system designs as well as the effect of cumulative years of working a rotating shift for the benefit of officer health outcomes is warranted.

摘要

本研究的目的是评估过去和当前轮班分配对美国执法人员健康结果的影响。在具有全国代表性的 2,867 名警官样本中，其中女性警官样本较多，我们估计了睡眠质量和疲劳、身体健康结果和心理健康结果的模型。此外，我们还研究了与目前正在轮班工作的官员相关的个人和机构层面的因素，以调查轮班分配中可能存在的模式。轮班史与较低的睡眠质量、高血压、糖尿病和高胆固醇呈正相关，但与胃肠道疾病、感知压力、情绪健康或自杀无关。轮班工作与健康结果的关联并不因性别而异。人口统计特征并不能预测当前的轮班分配，但较长的轮班历史和更长的工作时间确实可以预测当前的轮班分配。有必要关注缓解轮班制度设计以及轮班累积年数对官员健康结果的影响。