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. 2025 Feb 18;64(2):97.
doi: 10.1007/s00394-025-03600-5.

Association between shift work and eating behaviours, sleep quality, and mental health among Italian workers

Sofia Lotti  1 , Martina Moretton  2   3 , Michela Bulgari  4 , Lara Costantini  5 , Margherita Dall'Asta  6 , Ramona De Amicis  7   8 , Simona Esposito  9 , Cinzia Ferraris  10 , Simona Fiorini  10   11 , Elena Formisano  12 , Debora Giustozzi  13 , Monica Guglielmetti  10 , Valentina Membrino  14 , Alessia Moroni  15 , Antonia Napoletano  1 , Nicoletta Perone  1 , Elisa Proietti  12 , Marta Tristan Asensi  1 , Giorgia Vici  13 , Barbara Colombini  1 , Daniela Martini  4 , Francesco Sofi  1 , Monica Dinu  1 ; Working Group “Young Members” of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU)
Affiliations

Association between shift work and eating behaviours, sleep quality, and mental health among Italian workers

Sofia Lotti et al. Eur J Nutr. .

Abstract

Purpose: Recent studies indicate that shift work may affect workers' eating habits and overall well-being. This study aimed to assess differences in eating patterns, sleep quality, and mental health between Italian shift and non-shift workers, with a focus on individual chronotype and the type of shift work (day vs. night shift).

Methods: The cross-sectional study involved 322 subjects (166 shift and 156 non-shift workers). Eating habits were evaluated using a 7-day diary and the Medi-Lite questionnaire. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and mental health with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). Individual chronotype was defined using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire.

Results: No significant differences in daily energy, macronutrient, and micronutrient intake between the two groups, nor in the temporal pattern of eating. However, shift workers had significantly (p < 0.05) lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) (7.6 ± 2.3 vs 8.1 ± 2.2) compared to non-shift workers. Shift workers also reported significantly poorer sleep quality (mean PSQI score 7.6 ± 3.7 vs. 5.8 ± 3.0) and higher levels of anxiety and stress symptoms. Among shift workers, those with an evening chronotype had significantly lower MD adherence than those with a morning chronotypes. Additionally, night shift workers experienced more sleep disturbances compared to day ones.

Conclusion: Shift workers reported lower MD adherence, poorer sleep quality, and a higher prevalence of anxiety and stress symptoms compared to a similar group of non-shift workers. Evening chronotypes and night shift work were associated with worse eating habits and sleep quality.

Keywords: Chronotype; Dietary habits; Mental disorders; Shift workers; Sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethics approval: This study was performed in line with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the University of Florence, Florence, Italy (n. 1261/2020, protocol 0171095). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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