Impact of Rotating Shifts on Lifestyle Patterns and Perceived Stress among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Although rotating shifts have a negative health impact, their association with hospital nurses' health risks remains controversial due to incomplete adjustment in lifestyle patterns and heterogeneity of work schedules. However, whether work schedule characteristics are associated with lifestyle patterns and perceived stress remains undetermined. We assessed the correlations of work schedule characteristics, lifestyle patterns, and perceived stress among hospital nurses. This cross-sectional study included 340 nurses from two hospitals. Final data from 329 nurses regarding work schedule characteristics, lifestyle patterns (physical activity, dietary behavior, and sleep pattern), and perceived stress were analyzed via linear regression models. Fixed-day-shift nurses had reduced perceived stress (beta = 0.15, p = 0.007) compared with rotating-shift nurses. Additionally, among rotating-shift nurses, fixed-evening- and fixed-night-shift nurses had longer sleep duration (beta = 0.27, p < 0.001; beta = 0.25, p < 0.001) compared to non-fixed-rotating-shift nurses. Longer rotating-shift work was associated with healthier dietary behaviors (beta = 0.15, p = 0.008), better sleep quality (beta = -0.17, p = 0.003), lower perceived stress (beta = -0.24, p < 0.001), and shorter sleep duration (beta = -0.17, p = 0.003). Hospital nurses' work schedule characteristics were associated with lifestyle patterns, dietary behavior, sleep pattern, and perceived stress. Fixed-shifts were beneficial for lifestyle and lower perceived stress. Longer rotating shifts could help nurses adjust their lifestyles accordingly.