| Title: | Gene-x-environment analysis supports protective effects of eveningness chronotype on self-reported and actigraphy-derived sleep duration among those who always work night shifts in the UK Biobank |
| Journal: | Sleep |
| Published: | 6 Feb 2023 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36745570/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsad023 |
| URL: | https://academic.oup.com/sleep/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/sleep/zsad023/49512552/zsad023.pdf |
Publication 7958
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Abstract
Previous research has linked having an eveningness chronotype with a higher tolerance for night shift work, suggesting the ability to work nights without health consequences may partially depend upon having a circadian clock optimized for these times. As chronotypes entrain over time to environmental cues, it remains unclear whether higher relative eveningness among healthy night workers reflects a moderating or mediating effect of chronotype on health. We address these concerns conducting a genome-wide association study and utilizing a polygenic score (PGS) for eveningness as a time-invariant measure of chronotype. On a sample of 53 211 workers in the UK Biobank (2006-2018), we focus on the effects of night shift work on sleep duration, a channel through which night shift work adversely affects health. We ask whether a higher predisposition toward eveningness promotes night shift work tolerance. Results indicate that regular night shift work is associated with a 13-minute (3.5%) reduction in self-reported sleep per night relative to those who never work these hours (95% confidence interval [CI] = -17:01, -8:36). We find that eveningness has a strong protective effect on night workers: a one-SD increase in the PGS is associated with a 4-minute (28%) reduction in the night shift work sleep penalty per night (CI = 0:10, 7:04). This protective effect is pronounced for those working the longest hours. Consistent patterns are observed with an actigraphy-derived measure of sleep duration. These findings indicate that solutions to health consequences of night shift work should take individual differences in chronotype into account.4 Authors
- Evelina T Akimova
- Riley Taiji
- Xuejie Ding
- Melinda C Mills
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 32696 | Non-standard employment schedule resilience: A multifactorial approach |
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