Socioeconomic determinants of shift work employment in Canada and the Netherlands

A cross-sectional analysis of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging and the Hoorn Study

Bibliographic Data

ID22087673
AuthorsDennis B Campbell (University of Alberta), Tucker Reed (0009-0008-4110-3942, University of Calgary), Romy Slebe (0000-0003-0455-5890, Public Health Service of Amsterdam), Parminder Raina (0000-0002-8107-3193, Impact), Femke Rutters (0000-0002-1008-678X, Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC), Divya Joshi (0000-0003-3190-8866, Impact), Renée De Mutsert (0000-0002-5470-0673, Leiden University Medical Center), Jean-Pierre Després (Université Laval), J Despres (Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec), Joris Hoeks (0000-0002-0265-0870, Maastricht University), Denis P Blondin (0000-0001-6805-0985, Université de Sherbrooke), André Carpentier (Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke), André C Carpentier (0000-0002-3983-8156, Université de Sherbrooke), Patrick Schrauwen (0000-0002-0973-847X, Leiden University Medical Center), David J T Campbell (0000-0002-5570-3630, University of Alberta)
Year2026
Volume14
Pages1699140-1699140
Publication date2026-03-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2026.1699140
PMID41938929
OpenAlexW7138912239
LanguageEN
References cited31

Background: Shift work is known to be a risk factor for metabolic diseases. Although not established within literature, socioeconomic disadvantage may be associated with increased risk of being engaged in these shift work patterns. Aim: To examine whether socioeconomic factors are associated with the likelihood of engaging in shift work. Methods: Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA), we conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adults aged 45-85 years. We created a Social Disadvantage Score composed of points derived from immigration status, language, education and race, ranging from 0 to 6. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association between social disadvantage and shift work, while adjusting for relevant covariates. We performed similar analyses using data from the Hoorn Study in the Netherlands-focused on the association between educational attainment and shift work. Results: Of 18,393 adults employed in the CLSA at baseline, 16.6% reported currently working in a shift work scheduled job. Odds of shift work employment increased progressively with Social Disadvantage Score. Individuals with the highest scores (4+) had 3.25 times the odds (95% CI: 2.24-4.72) of being employed in shift work compared to those with a score of 0. Of 709 adults in the Hoorn Study, 11.4% worked in shift work patterns. Lower education was associated with shift work employment (OR 1.74, 95% CI: 1.1-2.9). Conclusions: Social disadvantage is strongly associated with shift work in Canada, and in the Netherlands, lower education is associated with shift work

Disadvantage · Educational attainment · Logistic regression · Longitudinal study · Odds · Odds ratio · Shift work · Socioeconomic status · Employment and Welfare Studies · Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue · Workplace Health and Well-being