Recent research indicates that specific work habits, especially in sedentary positions and those with irregular schedules, may lead to heightened insomnia and disrupted sleep, ultimately threatening long-term health.
The study calls for a reevaluation of workplace structures to improve sleep quality and boost overall employee wellness.
People engaged in jobs that involve long periods of sitting or those with unconventional working hours are significantly more likely to experience sleep disturbances.
Study Overview
Conducted by Claire Smith, a psychologist at the University of South Florida, the study reveals a concerning link between sedentary occupations—making up about 80% of the modern workforce—and a rise in insomnia symptoms.
This research, featured in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, is based on a decade’s worth of data collected from over 1,000 employees and highlights how both sedentary behavior and irregular working hours pose serious risks to sleep health.
Notably, the study finds that a sedentary lifestyle correlates with a 37% increase in insomnia symptoms.
In addition, those with nontraditional working hours face a 66% greater likelihood of engaging in “catch-up sleep,” which is characterized by frequent napping or extended sleeping on weekends.
Implications for Sleep Health
The findings emphasize that the design of work environments creates significant and persistent challenges to achieving healthy sleep.
Adequate sleep entails not just the number of hours slept but also the ability to fall asleep quickly, maintain uninterrupted rest, and keep a regular sleep schedule.
Organizations need to acknowledge the specific sleep-related challenges faced by their employees to facilitate effective interventions.
Research using data from the nationwide Midlife in the United States study identifies three categories of sleep health among employees over ten years: those who sleep well, those who struggle to catch up on sleep, and those with insomnia-like symptoms.
The results indicate a strong association between prolonged sitting in jobs and the insomnia-like sleeper category, characterized by difficulties in falling asleep, disrupted sleep cycles, and ongoing daytime fatigue.
In contrast, people with nontraditional work schedules, such as night shifts, are more likely to become catch-up sleepers.
Recommendations for Employers
Smith’s analysis suggests that integrating physical movement throughout the workday and reducing work-related tasks outside of regular hours could lead to better sleep and lower the risk of chronic sleep issues.
The study highlights that people who engage in poor sleeping habits due to their jobs—marked by long periods of sedentary behavior or inconsistent schedules—may remain trapped in these harmful patterns for years.
Alarmingly, 90% of those identified as insomnia-like sleepers reported that their symptoms persisted a decade later.
This finding is crucial for both employers and their teams, as insufficient sleep is linked to decreased productivity, reduced overall well-being, and compromised health.
The study underscores the necessity for organizations to rethink job designs with sleep health in mind.
Such thoughtful adjustments could greatly enhance employee well-being and emphasize the importance of implementing workplace initiatives that address sleep health as a complex and evolving issue rather than a straightforward solution.
“`htmlStudy Details:
- Title: Designing work for healthy sleep: A multidimensional, latent transition approach to employee sleep health
- Authors: Claire E. Smith, Soomi L. Lee, Tammy D. Allen, Meredith L. Wallace, Ross M. Andel, Orfeu M. Buxton, Sanjay R. Patel, and David M. Almeida
- Journal: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
- Publication Date: 19 December 2024
- DOI: 10.1037/ocp0000386