A Psychosocial Aspects of Split Shift in Professionals

Abstract

The present study emphasized the problems encountered by professional engineers who work in split shifts. A significant gap exists in the psychosocial components of professionals’ lives, including mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. Sleep deprivation affects their capacity to work and can lead to burnout. It was observed that sleep deprivation impairs a person’s life, particularly their ability to perform at work. Many participants expressed concern that their families were being neglected, and despite their efforts, they were often emotionally and physically unavailable to their loved ones. A phenomenological study design was employed, with a sample of six participants having at least two years of experience working in split shifts. The demographic information sheet included age, education, work experience, salary, marital status, financial status, family system, and birth order. The results showed that working in split shifts leads to various health problems and psychological issues such as anger and frustration. The major drawback of shift work is the disruption of the sleep cycle, as most participants reported irregular sleep routines due to schedules such as three nights followed by three days. The study also highlighted the importance of family support, as almost all participants stated that they could manage shift work only because of the support of their families, particularly their spouses. While they earn well, the participants expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs.