Dados do Trabalho

Título

Interday stability and its implications on the variation of activity rhythm in day and night workers

Introdução

Interday Stability is a metric that evaluates the regularity of activity across days, reflecting the coupling of the circadian rhythm with environmental cues such as sunlight and social interactions. Higher IS values indicate a more stable rhythm, while lower values may be associated with pathological conditions or difficulty in synchronizing with environmental cues. Nighttime work poses unique challenges to the maintenance of circadian stability due to the misalignment between the internal biological clock and external environmental signals, such as light exposure. Night workers often experience disrupted sleep patterns, decreased exposure to natural light, and increased social isolation, all of which can negatively impact their Interday Stability. This disruption may lead to various health issues, including cardiovascular problems, metabolic disorders, and impaired cognitive function.

Objetivo

To investigate the differences in Interday Stability between day and night workers, and to assess how this metric behaves in relation to coupling with environmental cues in a large hospital.

Métodos

A cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted with a sample of nursing staff from a large hospital in Alagoas. The Interday Stability variable was calculated for each participant, and differences between day workers (n=17) and night workers (n=63) were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, with p<0.05 considered as the significance level.

Resultados

The results indicated a statistically significant difference in Interday Stability between day and night workers (U = 731.0; p = 0.022). Night workers showed lower IS values, suggesting less stability in their activity rhythm and a possible mismatch with environmental cues.

Conclusões

The reduction in Interday Stability observed in night workers may reflect a decreased ability to synchronize with environmental cues such as sunlight and social interactions. These findings highlight the importance of interventions that may enhance circadian synchronization and, consequently, the health and well-being of these professionals.

Palavras -chave

Interday Stability, Shift Work, Circadian Rhythms, Occupational Health