The Problem with Night Shifts

​Black and Latinx people disproportionately work night shifts when compared to White people, and people of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to have to work night shifts than people of higher socioeconomic status. Increased risk of diabetes, substance abuse, and family dissolution is associated with working night shifts. Working night shifts also makes it more difficult to find childcare and go to medical appointments, as those are typically conducted during the daytime.

The Time People Arrive To Work by Socioeconomic Status

Source: prb.org/workingaroundtheclock/

The Time People Arrive to Work by Racial/Ethnic Group

Source: prb.org/workingaroundtheclock/

THE GRAPHS SHOW

• White people are less likely to work the night shift than Black and Latinx people.
• College graduates are less likely to work the night shift than non-college graduates.
• People of higher socioeconomic status are less likely to work the night shift than people of lower socioeconomic status.

HEALTH RISKS
Working night shifts can attribute to many health risks such as diabetes, as well as making it difficult for night workers to go to medical appointments. Adjusting for BMI and lifestyle, black women who ever reported working the night shift had a 12% increase risk of diabetes compared to those who never worked a night shift. For women younger than 50, working night shifts for at least 10 years is associated with a 39% increased diabetes risk. For women older than 50, working night shifts for at least 10 years is associated with a 17% increased diabetes risk. 
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NIGHT SHIFTS AFFECT ON LIFESTYLE
A person working night shifts cannot always accomodate the more common day schedules of their community.  Childcare is typically run only during the day, so night workers with children may have trouble finding adequite childcare. Night shifts can affect a worker's family life, by make it hard for parents to show up for their child's school or extracurricular activities. Night shifts are also associated with increased family dissolution and substance abuse.