Open AccessAge, sleep and irregular workhours – a field study with electroencephalographic recordings, catecholamine excretion and self-ratings
Author(s) -
Lars Torsvall,
Torbjörn Åkerstedt,
Mats Gillberg
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of work, environment and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.621
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1795-990X
pISSN - 0355-3140
DOI - 10.5271/sjweh.3112
Subject(s) - sleep (system call) , excretion , sleep stages , medicine , diuresis , catecholamine , psychology , rapid eye movement sleep , endocrinology , circadian rhythm , electroencephalography , polysomnography , psychiatry , computer science , kidney , operating system
Day sleep (after night work) and night sleep (after day work) were studied in two groups of locomotive engineers aged 25-35 and 50-60 a, respectively. All recordings were made in the homes of the subjects. For both groups day sleep was reduced by approximately 3.3 h, mainly affecting rapid eye movement sleep and stage 2 sleep. Diuresis and the excretion of noradrenaline were increased during day sleep. The ratings of sleepiness were higher after night work than after day work. Several indices of disturbed daytime sleep correlated significantly with catecholamine excretion. The age groups differed mainly in that the older subjects had relatively more stage shifts, awakenings, stage 1 sleep, a higher diuresis, and a higher noradrenaline excretion during day sleep. It was concluded that night work is detrimental to sleep and that negative effects are exacerbated by increasing age.