Sleep disturbance and work-related mental strain: A national prospective cohort study of the prediction of subsequent long-term sickness absence, disability pension and mortality

The association between sleep, mental health, and health behaviours: a Danish population-based cross-sectional study

AIMS

Sleep problems constitute a significant public health problem due to their high prevalence and impact on mental health and health behaviours, with major consequences for individuals and society. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between sleep problems (duration and quality), mental health and health behaviours.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data was derived from the 2021 health survey 'How are you?' from the Central Denmark Region. The study population was a stratified random sample of 33,925 respondents aged 16 years or older. We used logistic regression models to analyse the associations between sleep problems and indicators of mental health and health behaviour. The models were adjusted for sex, age, educational attainment, labour market attachment, cohabitation, and indicators of mental health and health behaviour.

RESULTS

A prevalence of around 10% for both short- and long sleep duration and poor sleep quality was found. All were associated with poor mental health-related quality of life, depression, stress, perceived stressors and obesity. In addition, short sleep duration was associated with daily smoking, and long sleep duration was associated with physical inactivity and daily smoking.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings revealed a stronger association between sleep problems and mental health indicators in comparison to health behaviours. We found that sleep duration and sleep quality in broad terms were associated with similar variables within mental health and health behaviour. These findings underline the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach to addressing sleep problems in the context of health promotion, disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

Changes in Sleep Quality, Sleep Duration, and Sickness Absence: A Longitudinal Study with Repeated Measures

BACKGROUND

Sickness absence has been linked to short and long, as well as poor, sleep in a few studies. Such studies have started from a baseline measurement and followed up on subsequent sickness absence. In the present study, however, we focused on the change in biennial reports of sickness absence and sleep measures (using work-related variables as possible modifiers). We also searched for an interaction between predictors and gender since women report more sleep problems.

METHODS

A total of 5377 individuals (random sample from the Swedish working population) participated across five biennial points of measurement. Data were analyzed using mixed-model logistic regression.

RESULTS

The multivariable analysis of variation across the five time points showed that the significant sleep-related predictors of sickness absence (at least one occurrence during the preceding year) were sleep duration during days off (OR = 1.16, 95% Cl = 1.08;1.24) and sleep problems (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.33;1.51). These also remained significant after the addition of psychosocial work factors. Sensitivity analyses indicated that a 9 h sleep duration during days off may represent a critical level in terms of increased sickness absence and that late rising contributed to the association between sickness absence and long sleep duration during days off. Women reported a higher sickness absence than men (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.74;2.68) and had a higher probability of sickness absence for long sleep during days off and during the workweek than men.

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that increases in sleep problems and sleep duration during days off are longitudinally associated with changes in sickness absence and that women have a closer link between the two. This suggests that treatment for sleep problems may reduce the risk of sickness absence.

Prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality among industrial workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: findings from a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of poor sleep quality among Bole Lemi Industrial Park workers in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

DESIGN

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to August 2022. The data were collected using a validated and standardised Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire. The collected data were entered into EpiData V.4.6 and analysed using Stata V.14. A multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with poor sleep quality. The association was determined using an adjusted OR (AOR) with a 95% CI at a p value of <0.05.

SETTING

The study was conducted in Bole Lemi Industrial Park in Addis Ababa.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 370 workers participated in this study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome of the study was the prevalence of poor sleep quality.

RESULTS

The total response rate was 87.7%. The majority (260, 70.3%) of the participants were female. The mean (±SD) age of the participants was 30.5 (±10.6) years. The prevalence of poor sleep quality during the last months was found to be 75.4% (n=279) (95% CI: 70.7% to 79.7%). Undiversified dietary intake (AOR: 1.63; 95% CI (1.09 to 2.78)), caffeine consumption more than 250 mg per day (AOR: 2.57; 95% CI (1.12 to 6.05)) and night shift work (AOR: 2.36; 95% CI (1.27 to 4.41)) were risk factors for poor sleep quality among sampled workers.

CONCLUSION

This study detected that poor sleep quality is highly prevalent among garment and textile industry workers, indicating that it is a significant public health issue that requires immediate attention. Therefore, modifications of the work environment involving night shift work and the improvement of workers' personal lifestyles involving dietary diversification and caffeine consumption are needed to minimise the burden of poor sleep quality among workers.

The Interplay Between Poor Sleep and Work-Related Health

Objectives

Sleep disorders can arise from work. Employees who experience work overload are more likely to develop sleep problems. Poor sleep leads to decreased performance, sick leave, and accidents. Therefore, sleep disorders may be linked to workplace hazards as well as decreased occupational health, however, the relationship remains unknown.

Methods

This relationship was examined using secondary data analysis of aggregated survey data from 97 companies based in Germany between 2003 and 2020 as part of Workplace Health Management project. Two extreme groups with respect to sleep problems were analyzed (N = 4,865 + 9,795). The survey “Diagnosis of corporate health” contained 137 individual questions which recorded all relevant working conditions, aspects of health, and one question relating to insomnia traits. A one-way analysis of variance was used to examine whether and to what extent the potentials, hazards, and health aspects differed between employees depending on their perceived sleep problems. In addition, multiple linear regressions were used to determine whether and to what extent work characteristics affect various health aspects for both good and poor sleepers.

Results

In total, 49.7% of staff reported moderate difficulty falling and/or remaining asleep. These poor sleepers perceived all health potentials worse than good sleepers, especially on scales such as fair assessment, work climate, and learning at work. Furthermore, poor sleepers perceived health hazards (physical environmental stress, job insecurity, and time pressure) more whilst positive health indicators (joy of work and confidence) were perceived less.

Conclusion

Overall, the determination of sleep difficulties could be used as a substantial health indicator. Also, these sleep problems are reported more frequently in certain occupations compared to others, which could mean that the perception of sleep health varies between professions. Therefore, it is important to implement specific recommendations for each industry in order to improve working conditions for poor sleepers which in turn, improves their health.

A cross-sectional epidemiological study of the relationship between sleep duration, quality, and rhythm and presenteeism in workers

This study aims to examine the relationship of sleep (sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep rhythm) with presenteeism in workers while controlling for other confounding factors. A total of 2375 workers of six Japanese companies received self-administered questionnaires from June to November 2018. Information on sleep duration was used to evaluate sleep quantity, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to evaluate sleep quality, and workers' engagement in shift work was used to determine their sleep rhythms. We used the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire to evaluate presenteeism. Information on lifestyle (exercise, smoking, etc.), sex, and age was also collected. We conducted a logistic regression analysis with high absolute/relative presenteeism as an objective variable, sleep duration, AIS, and shift work as dependent variables, and basic attributes and lifestyle factors as adjustment factors. Completed questionnaires were collected from 1992 workers (aged 18-79 years; 25.2% women; response rate: 83.9%). Logistic regression analysis showed that high absolute presenteeism was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (high AIS score; P < 0.001) but not with sleep duration (P = 0.326) and shift work (P = 0.177). High relative absenteeism was significantly associated with poor sleep quality (high AIS score; P = 0.001) but not with sleep duration (P = 0.461) or shift work (P = 0.245). We showed that poor sleep quality is significantly associated with a high level of presenteeism. This suggests focusing on improving sleep quality is important for reducing presenteeism among workers.

How Human Resources Index, Relational Justice, and Perceived Productivity Change after Reorganization at a Hospital in Sweden That Uses a Structured Support Model for Systematic Work Environment Management

To facilitate systematic work environment management, which should be a natural part of business development, a structured support model was developed. The Stamina model has previously been used in Swedish municipalities, showing positive results. The aim was to study how the Human Resources Index (HRI), relational justice, short-term recovery and perceived productivity changed in a recently reorganised perioperative setting in a hospital in Sweden that uses a structured support model for systematic work environment management. A longitudinal design that took measurements at four time points was used in a sample of 500 employees in a perioperative hospital department. The results for the overall sample indicated a positive trend in the HRI (Mt1 = 48.5, SDt1 = 22.5; Mt3 = 56.7, SDt1 = 21.2; p < 0.001). Perceived health-related production loss (Mdt1 = 2, IQR = 3; Mdt3 = 0, IQR = 3; p < 0.001) and perceived work environment-related production loss (Mdt1 = 2, IQR = 3; Mdt3 = 0, IQR = 4; p < 0.001) showed major improvements. Short-term recovery showed a minor improvement (Mt1 = 2.61, SDt1 = 1.33; Mt3 = 2.65, SDt3 = 1.22; p = 0.872). In conclusion, the implementation of the Stamina model, of which the HRI constitutes an important part, seems to be a helpful tool to follow-up on work environment processes, and minimise production losses due to health and work environment-related issues.

Life-course trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing

Aims:

As populations are ageing worldwide, it is important to identify strategies to promote successful ageing. We investigate how working conditions throughout working life are associated with successful ageing in later life.

Methods:

Data from two nationally representative longitudinal Swedish surveys were linked (n=674). In 1991, respondents were asked about their first occupation, occupations at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 years and their last recorded occupation. Occupations were matched with job exposure matrices to measure working conditions at each of these time points. Random effects growth curve models were used to calculate intra-individual trajectories of working conditions. Successful ageing, operationalised using an index including social and leisure activity, cognitive and physical function and the absence of diseases, was measured at follow-up in 2014 (age 70 years and older). Multivariable ordered logistic regressions were used to assess the association between trajectories of working conditions and successful ageing.

Results:

Intellectually stimulating work; that is, substantive complexity, in the beginning of one’s career followed by an accumulation of more intellectually stimulating work throughout working life was associated with higher levels of successful ageing. In contrast, a history of stressful, hazardous or physically demanding work was associated with lower levels of successful ageing.

Conclusions:

Promoting a healthy workplace, by supporting intellectually stimulating work and reducing physically demanding and stressful jobs, may contribute to successful ageing after retirement. In particular, it appears that interventions early in one’s employment career could have positive, long-term effects.