OBJECTIVES: Overworking, shift schedules directly lead to increased stress load. Our aim was to assess gastrointestinal symptoms are severe, in case of people who work in shift or multi or continuous shift. We assessed that what is the impact of working effort, use different coping methods and various stress levels to severity of symptoms. METHODS: Study was conducted between February and May 2014 round of patients who were at doctor with gastrointestinal complaints, at 4 general practitioner areas and 1 internal medicine clinic. 94 people took part in the study. Inclusion criteria: 18 - 65 years of age and the 4 weeks incidence of gastrointestinal complaints. Cross-sectional study, quantitative, retrospective and non-randomized expert sampling. Study performed with compiled for study and standard questionnaires (Effort, reward, imbalance, Perceived Stress, Conflict resolution, Gastrointestinal symptoms incidence, prevalence, severity, Assessment of reflux diagnostic and Rome III. Criteria System). Microsoft Excel program used for descriptive statistics, Chi-square test was calculated and results are shown confidence interval range. Results were considered significant at p <0.05. RESULTS: Most common complaint of study population is abdominal bloating and pain. Severity of symptoms is not depended on shift schedules (p> 0.05). There was significant relationship between level of effort in workplace and severity of symptoms, less effort bidders had minor complaints (p = 0.036). Higher stress level holders were more severe symptoms (p = 0.012) than in lower level holders. Complaints of problem-oriented coping method users were weaker than patients who used emotional oriented coping mode (p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with investigated gastrointestinal complaints a significant relationship was observed between stress levels and extent of work effort and methods of coping form. Recognition of these factors could contribute to selection of appropriate therapy, sparing patients from additional tests that cause stress and lead to a vicious circle.