Subjective vitality of night workers: Association with physical and mental health = Vitalidad subjetiva de los trabajadores nocturnos: asociaciones con su salud física y mental

Night work is one of the most recognized responsibilities of security personnel. Feeling vital is a necessary condition for assuring proper development of this function. Thus, the analysis of its effects on physical and mental conditions is a relevant resource for achieving adequate results at individual and organizational levels. Based on a ques- tionnaire applied to 184 private security guards in Colombia, this study examines the subjective vitality of the personnel working during night shifts and its association with self-perceptions regarding their physical and mental health. Additionally, it analyzes the interference that various demographic variables exert on these relationships. By using partial least squares structural equation modeling, the study found that subjec- tive vitality significantly affects night workers’ mental health more than their physical health. That is, subjective vitality among respondents explains 51% of the variability of mental health and 36% of the variability of physical health. A further significant effect of physical health on mental health was also evidenced, in which the former explains the 25% of the latter variability. When comparing results between genders, the study shows that the variability of mental health explained by subjective vitality among women is larger than among men (75% vs. 28%). These results are discussed in light of the theoretical aspects of organizational behavior and are grounded around their potential to address the phenomenon of human resource management in prac- tice. Practical implications include the need for organizational schemes that balance physical and mental health among night workers. Resumen: El trabajo nocturno es una de las responsabilidades más reconocidas del personal de seguridad. Sentirse vital es una condición necesaria para asegurar el correcto desarrollo de esta función. Así, el análisis de sus efectos sobre las condiciones físicas y psíquicas es un recurso relevante para lograr resultados adecuados a nivel individual y ...