ABSTRACT
Compared with the total work-force in industrialized West-European countries, the mean age of shiftworkers is also expected to increase over the next few decades, as a result of economic, demographical and social changes. This process has given rise to a growing interest in the interaction between age and shiftwork. It is hypothesized that, with increasing age, people are less able to adjust to shiftwork and that health complaints become manifest. These theories will be studied in this paper by reviewing the results of the international scientific literature. First, a theoretical model is presented. Then the effects of age and shiftwork on sleep disturbances and health complaints will be discussed. Next, the influence of various selection mechanisms on shiftwork populations are addressed. Finally, the possibilities of preventive measurements and the need for further research will be stated.
