DOI: 10.3886/icpsr39156
title: Atypical Work Hours and Adaptation in Law Enforcement: Targets for Disease Prevention, Buffalo, New York, 2019-2024
title: Archival Version

description: This study evaluated the impact of atypical work hours on physiological indicators of health and chronic disease among law enforcement officers enrolled in the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study. Atypical work hours were defined as: work outside of a standard daytime work shift, the number of shift changes that occur over an extended period, the effect of cumulative overtime hours, and/or secondary employment. The data in this release include measures of global DNA methylation, which is an indicator of genomic instability and risk factor for several types of cancer; food logs documenting wake, sleep, and meal times during workdays and off-duty days; and survey data about psychosocial adaptive and maladaptive behaviors associated with atypical work hours.
description: The purpose of this study was to better understand how atypical work hours impact the health and wellbeing of law enforcement officers. This project's specific aims included: (1) Measuring the impact of atypical work hours on early biological indicators of chronic disease, (2) Investigating the strategies that law enforcement officers use to adapt to atypical work hours and how the behaviors and characteristics of maladapted workers differ from adapted workers, (3) Determining which adaptation strategies are associated with beneficial or detrimental changes in health indicators, (4) Identifying evidence-based strategies that minimize health risks for police officers adapting to atypical work hours.
description: This study utilized a combination of existing data from Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study along with new biological and survey data. To create the Biological Data (DS1), the researchers analyzed previously-collected, frozen biospecimens to create new measures of global DNA methylation. To create the Food Log Data (DS2) and Survey Data (DS3), researchers recruited eligible former BCPOS participants to complete a three-day food log and a survey about their sleep/wake patterns, work schedule, and psychosocial adaptive/maladaptive behaviors associated with atypical work hours. The survey was administered in-person in a private space while the food log was completed independently over a three-day period. Participants were recruited via mailed recruitment letters and were compensated with a $25 check.
description: The Biological Data (DS1) includes one variable documenting the visit number and three variables describing DNA methylation results.
The Food Log Data (DS2) includes daily food logs from two workdays and one off-duty day. This dataset includes variables reporting the time, location, and eating occasion for each meal, snack, or drink consumed over the course of a day. Wake/sleep time and date are also included for each day.
The Survey Data (DS3) includes variables about sleep habits, social life, napping habits, strategies to adapt to atypical work hours, working hours, and secondary employment.
description: Response Rates: The researchers identified 465 Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) cohort members as potential participants and recruited 176 (37.85 percent) for this study. Of these 176 recruits, 159 (90.34 percent) were included in the final Food Log Data (DS2) and Survey Data (DS3).
description: This study used the existing Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress (BCOPS) study cohort to construct a convenience sample stratified by gender.
description: Datasets: 
DS0: Study-Level Files
DS1: Biological Data
DS2: Food Log Data
DS3: Survey Data
description: Law enforcement officers. Smallest Geographic Unit: City
description: face-to-face interview; mail questionnaire; on-site questionnaire