Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes
Shift work is prevalent among healthcare professionals and associated with significant health risks, including stress, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. Despite known sex differences in stress responses, their impact on shift workers, particularly student pharmacists, is understudied. The obje...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Psychiatry International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/47 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849431752480653312 |
|---|---|
| author | Mohammed F. Salahuddin Richard Bugingo Fakhri Mahdi Delilah Spencer Md Dilshad Manzar Jason J. Paris |
| author_facet | Mohammed F. Salahuddin Richard Bugingo Fakhri Mahdi Delilah Spencer Md Dilshad Manzar Jason J. Paris |
| author_sort | Mohammed F. Salahuddin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shift work is prevalent among healthcare professionals and associated with significant health risks, including stress, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. Despite known sex differences in stress responses, their impact on shift workers, particularly student pharmacists, is understudied. The objective of this study was to explore sex-specific differences in psychological and physiological stress responses among pharmacy students engaged in shift work. Psychological stress was assessed using validated scales like the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Shift Work Disorder Index (SWDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Additionally physiological stress was assessed using salivary biomarkers like cortisol, DHEA-S, IL-6, and alpha-amylase. Females reported significantly higher perceived stress (<i>p</i> = 0.0004), SWDI (<i>p</i> = 0.0302), insomnia (<i>p</i> = 0.0111), and negative affect (<i>p</i> = 0.0171) compared to males. Rotating shift workers showed elevated scores across all measures (<i>p</i> = 0.0005–0.0381). Female rotating shift workers exhibited higher alpha-amylases (<i>p</i> = 0.0191) and lower DHEA-S levels (<i>p</i> = 0.0176) than males. Strong correlations emerged between perceived stress and insomnia (r = 0.40, <i>p</i> = 0.0001) and between insomnia and negative affect (r = 0.55, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Findings highlight females’ vulnerability, underscoring the need for sex-specific interventions and the early identification of stress biomarkers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-372675c3650b4d20a35c1ec3d3aa05f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-5318 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychiatry International |
| spelling | doaj-art-372675c3650b4d20a35c1ec3d3aa05f82025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGPsychiatry International2673-53182025-04-01624710.3390/psychiatryint6020047Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health OutcomesMohammed F. Salahuddin0Richard Bugingo1Fakhri Mahdi2Delilah Spencer3Md Dilshad Manzar4Jason J. Paris5Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USADepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USADepartment of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USADepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USADepartment of Nursing, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USAShift work is prevalent among healthcare professionals and associated with significant health risks, including stress, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. Despite known sex differences in stress responses, their impact on shift workers, particularly student pharmacists, is understudied. The objective of this study was to explore sex-specific differences in psychological and physiological stress responses among pharmacy students engaged in shift work. Psychological stress was assessed using validated scales like the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Shift Work Disorder Index (SWDI), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Additionally physiological stress was assessed using salivary biomarkers like cortisol, DHEA-S, IL-6, and alpha-amylase. Females reported significantly higher perceived stress (<i>p</i> = 0.0004), SWDI (<i>p</i> = 0.0302), insomnia (<i>p</i> = 0.0111), and negative affect (<i>p</i> = 0.0171) compared to males. Rotating shift workers showed elevated scores across all measures (<i>p</i> = 0.0005–0.0381). Female rotating shift workers exhibited higher alpha-amylases (<i>p</i> = 0.0191) and lower DHEA-S levels (<i>p</i> = 0.0176) than males. Strong correlations emerged between perceived stress and insomnia (r = 0.40, <i>p</i> = 0.0001) and between insomnia and negative affect (r = 0.55, <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Findings highlight females’ vulnerability, underscoring the need for sex-specific interventions and the early identification of stress biomarkers.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/47shift workperceived stressinsomniamood disorderssex differencescortisol |
| spellingShingle | Mohammed F. Salahuddin Richard Bugingo Fakhri Mahdi Delilah Spencer Md Dilshad Manzar Jason J. Paris Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes Psychiatry International shift work perceived stress insomnia mood disorders sex differences cortisol |
| title | Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes |
| title_full | Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes |
| title_short | Physiological and Psychological Impacts of Shift Work Among Student Pharmacists: Sex Differences in Stress and Health Outcomes |
| title_sort | physiological and psychological impacts of shift work among student pharmacists sex differences in stress and health outcomes |
| topic | shift work perceived stress insomnia mood disorders sex differences cortisol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5318/6/2/47 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohammedfsalahuddin physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes AT richardbugingo physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes AT fakhrimahdi physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes AT delilahspencer physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes AT mddilshadmanzar physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes AT jasonjparis physiologicalandpsychologicalimpactsofshiftworkamongstudentpharmacistssexdifferencesinstressandhealthoutcomes |