A study published in April 2024 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE suggests that the hours you work earlier in life may be associated with worse health years later. The study, conducted by Wen-Jui Han of New York University, focuses on the impact of nonstandard work schedules on physical, mental, and social health throughout a person’s working life. Nonstandard work schedules, such as working outside the traditional nine-to-five workday, have been consistently shown to have negative effects on health and overall well-being.
Using data from The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-1979 (NLSY79), which includes information on over 7,000 people in the US over 30 years, Han examined how employment patterns in younger adulthood were linked to sleep, physical health, and mental health at age 50. The study found that individuals with more volatile work schedules, including evening, night, and variable hours, tended to have poorer sleep quality, less sleep, and higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to those who mainly worked traditional daytime hours throughout their careers.
Specifically, Han found that around a quarter of participants worked stable standard hours, while a third worked mostly standard hours. Another 17 percent started with standard hours in their 20s but shifted to volatile schedules later on, and 12 percent switched from standard to variable hours. Han also noted racial and gender-related trends, with Black Americans being more likely to have volatile work schedules associated with poorer health outcomes, suggesting that certain groups may bear a disproportionate burden of the negative effects of nonstandard work schedules.
In addition to negative impacts on sleep, physical health, and mental health, the study also highlights how employment patterns can contribute to health inequities over one’s lifetime. Han suggests that volatile work schedules can lead to poor sleep, physical fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, ultimately making individuals more vulnerable to an unhealthy life. The increasing precarity in work arrangements in our society is turning what should be a source of resources into a vulnerability to a healthy life, particularly for individuals in vulnerable social positions such as females, Black Americans, and those with lower levels of education.
Overall, the study underscores the long-term consequences of nonstandard work schedules on health and well-being. As individuals transition from stable to volatile work schedules throughout their careers, they may experience a cumulative negative impact on their health. This research highlights the need for policies and interventions that address the adverse effects of nonstandard work schedules, particularly for marginalized groups who may be disproportionately affected. By understanding the implications of different work patterns on health outcomes, we can work towards creating more equitable and sustainable employment practices for all individuals.
