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J. Gärtner, A. Arlinghaus, B. Stadler, H. Eichmann, B. Saupe, A. Schönauer:
"Leisure Activities and Rest after Long Work Hours and Night Work - A Pilot Diary Study Using Mobile Devices";
Talk: XXIV International Symposium on Shiftwork & Working Time - Shiftwork2019, Coeur D#Alene, Idaho, USA (invited); 2019-09-09 - 2019-09-13.

The negative effects of long work hours and night work on health and well-being have been studied in a variety of settings. However, less is known about effects on social participation of these working hours, especially in prospective and diary settings. Therefore, we designed a diary study based on mobile devices allowing daily real-time measurement of working hours, sleep/rest and several leisure time activities (alone or with others), as well as satisfaction with leisure time. A pilot test is currently conducted, and the results will be presented at the Symposium. Methods: A volunteer sample of 10 nurses with work schedules that included long work days (10-12 hrs) and frequent night work was recruited in an Austrian nursing home. They were provided with a mobile device in which participants entered daily start and end of work, sleep, and leisure time in real-time over the course of 4 weeks. During leisure time, a random sampling of leisure activities was conducted to measure timing and types of activities. At the beginning of each sleep period,
Sleep Sci. 2019;12(Supl.3):1-7524a short survey on leisure time satisfaction was conducted. Results: Data collection will be completed in March 2019. Data analysis will be conducted regarding patterns of work, sleep, leisure time activities and satisfaction with leisure time on work days and work-free days. If possible, long (>10hrs) vs. shorter (<=10hrs) work days and night shifts will be compared. Discussion: This is - to our knowledge - one of the first studies that combines diary measurements with random sampling of leisure time activities in combination with long work hours and night work. The results of the pilot test will inform future studies on the temporal patterns of work, sleep, and leisure time, and will help forming of new or altered hypotheses in the causation of social impairment due to working hours.