Evaluation of the survey of shiftworkers (SOS) short version of the standard shiftwork index

The objective of the study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a translated SOS version and to compare the results obtained on groups of shiftworkers of different gender, working in different shift schedules. The subjects: (a) 61 women working 12-hour shifts (day-night-two days off), (b) 78 men working 12-hour shifts (day-night-two days off) and (c) 69 men working 8-hour shifts (2:2:2; morning-afternoon-night) were administered the SOS which consists of questions and rating scales covering description of the shift system worked, individual difference and tolerance to shiftwork measures. The scales used as tolerance to shiftwork measures showed satisfactory psychometric properties. The discriminant analysis performed showed that the 'social', 'domestic' and 'non-domestic' disruption scores were the most potent discriminant factors to differentiate between different shift systems. Irrespective of gender, workers in 12-hour shift system reported less disturbed domestic, non-domestic and social life than workers in 8-hour shift system.