191 male blue-collar workers who had previously worked nights and shifts were differentiated into 3 groups: a group that had left night- and shiftwork because of health reasons; another that left it for various other reasons; and a middle group that had a combination of health and other reasons for leaving. Ss completed measures of environmental and psychological stress, psychosomatic and other health complaints, and irritation and strain. Findings show that the 1st group had more health complaints than the one that left for other reasons. They were less skilled, had been unemployed less often, and were typically told by their physician to leave shiftwork. They had also stayed in shiftwork longer than the group that left shiftwork for other reasons. It is suggested that studies on former shiftworkers should differentiate between these groups so as not to underestimate the real problems of former shiftworkers who left for health reasons. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).