The Correlation Between Night Shift Work Schedules, Sleep Quality, and Depression Symptoms

Prevalence and Correlates of Poor Sleep Quality Among Psychiatry Physicians in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aims

Sleep issues pose a significant burden to public health and well-being in Saudi Arabia. However, research evidence on sleep health among psychiatry physicians in this territory is limited. Therefore, to bridge the research gap, this study was designed to assess the prevalence and predictors of poor sleep quality among psychiatry physicians in the country.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included 554 psychiatry physicians in Saudi Arabia from March to August 2023. Data were collected via online through a structured questionnaire (Google survey form). Sleep quality, the outcome variable of our study, was evaluated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; 19 items). Independent variables included sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics, sleep habits, major depression (assessed with Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and anxiety (measured with Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7) symptoms. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the correlates of poor sleep quality.

Results

Based on the PSQI, 61.3% of the study participants had poor-quality sleep (age range: 24-56 years, male: 48.0%). The adjusted model revealed that male participants (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.70-4.61) and those who had on-call duties ≥ 2 times per week (for three/four per week: AOR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.89-6.14) were at higher risk of developing poor sleep quality compared to their respective counterparts. Participants with depressive symptoms (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.60-7.48) and smoking habits (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI = 1.32-9.08) had higher odds of developing poor sleep quality than their counterparts. Moreover, participants who always used their smartphone/laptop before going to bed were more likely to have poor sleep quality than those who never used such (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI = 1.31-7.60).

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality is extremely prominent among psychiatry physicians in Saudi Arabia. Male sex, higher on-call duty, smoking habits, depression, and smartphone/laptop use before bedtime were significantly associated with poor sleep quality. These findings emphasize the need for sleep-health promotion interventions for Saudi psychiatry physicians.

A latent profile analysis of shift work tolerance among Chinese male sailors during a prolonged non-24-h rotating shift schedule at sea

Shift work tolerance (SWT) refers to the ability to adapt to shift work without significant adverse consequences. The present study aimed to examine the individual differences in SWT and their predictors and outcomes. Latent profile analyses were conducted using cross-sectional data collected form 448 Chinese male sailors who experienced a prolonged (>30 d) non-24-h rotating shift schedule at sea. Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, fatigue, domestic disruption, job satisfaction, work engagement, digestive and cardiovascular symptoms were included as indicators of SWT. The results showed that there existed 2 latent profiles of SWT named as High SWT group and Low SWT group. High SWT group was characterized by low levels on all negative bio-psycho-social outcomes but high levels of work engagement and job satisfaction, while Low SWT group exhibited completely opposite characteristics compared to High SWT group. The level of hardiness could predict profile membership that those with higher level of hardiness were more likely to belong to High SWT group. However, there were no significant differences observed in job performance between two groups. In conclusion, hardiness can serve as a predictor of personnel selection for shift work and hardiness-based intervention programs should be encouraged among the shift workers.

The relationship between night shift work, sleep patterns, psychological well-being, and mental health among Jordanian healthcare workers

This study examines the associations between working night shifts and various outcomes, including sleep patterns, healthcare workers' sleep quality, and physical, mental, and social well-being. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, where the findings revealed that night shift healthcare workers experienced poor sleep quality and pattern. In addition, night shift healthcare workers were more likely to express their intent to leave, the impact of work on their social lives, and a low level of job satisfaction. Healthcare workers showed moderate anxiety and mild depression levels. Lower job satisfaction correlated with higher anxiety and depression levels among healthcare workers, while the negative impact of working hours on social life was associated with increased anxiety and depression. Organizations should consider establishing comprehensive wellness initiatives covering work-life balance, stress management strategies, and mental health resources.

Depressive Symptoms among Psychiatric Nurses in a Hospital: An Analytical Research

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric nurses are vulnerable to the menace of negative emotions due to the nature of their work and the closed environment in which they work. In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and influencing factors of depression among psychiatric nurses.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey method was adopted to investigate 64 nurses working in the psychiatric department of a hospital from June 2022 to June 2023. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire was administered to all included respondents, who were divided into depressed group (>4 points) and non-depressed group (≤4 points) according to the BDI scores. General sociological and disease-related characteristics of these two groups were measured, and items with significant differences were analyzed by logistic regression to derive factors that have an impact on the occurrence of depression among psychiatric nurses.

RESULTS

Twelve psychiatric nurses in the surveyed hospital exhibited signs of depressive symptoms, with a rate of 18.75%. The univariate analysis unveiled differences between the depressed group and the non-depressed group in terms of daily sleep time, weekly working hours, professional title, working pressure, physical exercise, length of service, and physical condition. Further analysis through logistic regression revealed that daily sleep time, weekly working hours, and physical condition were factors affecting the occurrence of depression among psychiatric nurses.

CONCLUSION

The vulnerability of psychiatric nurses to depression, which are potentially influenced by daily sleep hours, weekly working hours, and physical condition, deserves clinical attention so that countermeasures can be developed for early intervention.

Sleep quality and mental health among Chinese nurses after the COVID-19 pandemic: A moderated model

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

In the specialized nursing setting, nurses are susceptible to developing negative mental health issues. Such conditions among nurses can potentially result in unfavorable medical outcomes. Consequently, this study aims to explore the role of social support in regulating between sleep and mental health in nurses.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in September 2022 on 1219 nurses in Quanzhou. The study comprised general demographic information and utilized various questionnaires, namely the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The data analysis was performed using t-tests, ANOVAs, Pearsons correlations and hierarchical regression analyses in SPSS software.

RESULTS

Results show that significant associations of sleep quality and social support with anxiety and depression. Simple slope analysis shows that under low levels of social support, sleep quality has a positive impact on anxiety(β = 0.598) and depression(β = 0.851), and the impact is significant. Under high levels of social support, sleep quality also has a positive impact on anxiety(β = 0.462) and depression(β = 0.578), but the impact is smaller. This indicates that as the level of social support increases, the positive predictive effect of sleep quality on anxiety and depression gradually diminishes.

CONCLUSIONS

Social support has the potential to alter the impact of sleep quality on anxiety and depression. Therefore, healthcare policymakers need to focus on enhancing the level of social support and mitigating the impact of poor sleep on anxiety and depression.

The effect of cumulative night shift duties on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in intensive care unit

Background

Night shift duties are crucial in the ICU to ensure care continuity, where critically ill patients require round-the-clock care. However, cumulative night shift duties may disturb circadian rhythm, insomnia, fatigue, and depression, and require further elucidation.

Objectives

This study aims to examine the negative consequences of various night shift patterns on insomnia, fatigue, and mental health of ICU Workers.

Methods

A cross-sectional study examined how cumulative night shift duty affects insomnia, fatigue, and mental health in critical care providers (CCPs).

Results

A total of 1006 participants completed this study between June 2022 and March 2023, including 54.5 % males. About 35 % were between 20 and 30 years of age, and Respiratory Therapists accounted for approximately 46.5 % of the entire sample. Most of our respondents (476; 47 %) reported working night shifts, with a monthly range of 8-15 nights. The prevalence rates for moderate to severe clinical insomnia, fatigue, and moderate to severe depression were 42 %, 48 %, and 32 %, respectively. CCPs working 8-15 nights had a 2-fold risk of clinical insomnia than those working fewer than eight nights with (AOR) and 95 % (CI) of 2.12 and 1.41-3.20, while those working ≥16 nights per month had a greater incidence of clinical insomnia compared to those working <8 nights per month, AOR (CI): 3.09 (1.90-5.03). Only those working ≥16-night shifts per month had a substantially higher fatigue risk compared to those working < 8-night shifts per month, with an AOR (CI) of 1.92 (1.19-3.08). Working 8-15-night shifts per month increases depression risks by 34 % compared to the <8-night shifts group, AOR (CI): 1.34 (0.87-2.08). Those working ≥16-night shifts per month showed a higher depression risk than those working <8-night shifts, AOR (CI): 2.53 (1.53-4.19).

Conclusion

A cumulative night shift above eight nights per month is linked with an increased risk of insomnia, fatigue, and depression. The risk of these conditions was significantly directly proportional to the number of night shifts performed per month.

Sleep quality and fatigue among nurses working in high-acuity clinical settings in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality is prevalent among nurses worldwide. Around two-thirds of nurses doing shift work are known to experience sleep problems and fatigue. Fatigue and sleep problems are linked to poor performance, impaired alertness, injuries, chronic diseases, compromised healthcare quality, and medical errors, all of which detrimentally impact nurses and threaten patients' safety. This area of research has received insufficient attention in Saudi Arabia; therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the levels of sleep quality and perceived fatigue and their association among nurses working in acute care settings in comprehensive hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Chalder Fatigue Scale. Data was obtained via an online questionnaire that was distributed to nurses using the QuestionPro platform through hospital administrators, social media (WhatsApp), and personal contact.

RESULTS

A total of 173 nurses completed the online survey. Most participants reported poor sleep quality (n = 127, 73.4%) and severe perceived fatigue (n = 156, 90.2%). Furthermore, the study revealed a significant correlation between the overall sleep disturbance and fatigue global scores (r = 0.57, P < 0.001), indicating that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with higher fatigue levels among the study sample.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study found a significant association between sleep quality and severe fatigue in nurses working in high acute care settings in Saudi Arabia. It is very clear from the results that nurses are experiencing poor sleep and severe fatigue, which in turn, will negatively impact the nurse's quality of life and patient safety.

Does the timing of intake matter? Association between caffeine intake and depression: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

BACKGROUND

Recent research suggests that caffeine intake is associated with a reduced risk of depression. However, the relationship between caffeine intake during different periods of the day and depression is still unclear.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study analyzed noninstitutionalized adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with a weighted representation of approximately 218 million US adults. Covariate-adjusted sample-weighted regressions were used to examine associations between caffeine intake and depression in different periods.

RESULTS

Caffeine intake during non-early morning periods (outside of 5:00-8:00 AM) is associated with a high prevalence of depression (unadjusted OR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.05-1.11; adjusted OR: 1.03, 95 % CI: 1.00-1.06). Participants who consumed caffeine in the early morning (5:00-8:00 AM) had a lower prevalence of depression compared to participants who did not consume caffeine in the early morning (unadjusted OR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.67-0.85; adjusted OR: 0.86, 95 % CI: 0.75-0.99).

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional study could not determine the temporal association; patients with depression in this study were not clinically diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Among US adults, early morning caffeine consumers had a lower prevalence of depression than non-consumers; caffeine intake during non-early morning periods is associated with a high prevalence of depression. Our results may suggest the importance of caffeine intake time for depression.