Comparisons of stress levels in shift and non-shift military personnel (gunners)

Abstract

Shift work is considered as a major potential stressor effecting badly the health and well-being of the individual as well as one's family and social life. A standard questionnaire (The Standard Shift Work Index) was used to examine and compare the levels of stress amongst gunners performing shift and non-shift duties in the Armed Forces of Malta. A total of two hundred (200) gunners took part, of which half were shift gunners and the other one hundred (100) were nonshift soldiers. The data were used to answer the research questions drawn specifically for this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Independent Samples T-Tests. Significant results obtained have shown stress levels higher for shift than non-shift participants. These results are discussed and recommendations highlighted.