Shift work disorder was common among nurses, with wide variation across studies
Observational studies found a substantial burden, with prevalence differences across nursing populations and assessment subgroups.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The pooled estimate suggests shift work disorder was common among the nurses studied, although prevalence varied substantially. Stress, work schedules, and several personal factors were associated with the disorder. Because the evidence was observational, these findings cannot show that any factor caused the disorder or that changing schedules would reduce its occurrence.
Substantial differences across studies limit how well the pooled estimate represents any single workplace. The abstract omits assessment periods and does not isolate assessment methods from other differences between study populations.
What researchers found
Pooled prevalence of shift work disorder
Estimated proportion of nurses affected across the included studies; no treatment comparator. Assessment periods were not reported in the abstract.
Assessment subgroups differed
Studies using questionnaires or scales reported higher prevalence than studies using formal diagnostic criteria. This was a comparison between study subgroups; it does not establish that the assessment method itself produced the difference.
Scheduling questions remain open
More night shifts and more quick shifts were associated with the disorder, as were anxiety, depression, and fatigue. These links identify questions for further research, but the abstract does not report tests of scheduling or support interventions.
The original publication
The prevalence and risk factors of shift work disorder among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Zhao X, Zhang L, Zhang X et al.
Int J Nurs Stud · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41223687
- Record checked
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