Associations between shift work arrangements, sleep characteristics, urinary cortisol and melatonin levels among nurses in Hong Kong
Irregular shifts, longer sleep duration and delayed wake-up time significantly reduced wakening cortisol levels, while delayed sleep timing suppressed melatonin secretion. These findings highlight how shift arrangements and sleep characteristics disrupt hormonal rhythms in shift workers. Optimising shift patterns and sleep interventions (eg, prioritising duration/consistency) may mitigate circadian disruption and improve shift worker health.
Authors
- Wenzhen Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4681-2121)
- Lap Ah Tse (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0355-6218)
- Priscilla Ming Yi Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7688-0126)
- Beixi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7582-4640)
- Emily Ying Yang Chan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8854-5093)
- Yun Kwok Wing (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5745-5474)
- Anke Huss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9268-1867)
- Shirong Qiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0238-8312)
- Chung Shun Ho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3657-6445)
- Yuen Ting Julie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3458-0587)
- Jean H. Kim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5799-5913)
- Joey Wing Yan Chan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2692-2666)
- Anthony M.‐H. Ho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1519-2725)
Institutions
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Published
- 2025-09-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/oemed-2025-110334
- Primary Topic
- Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00