Sedentary work and irregular working hours have a significant impact on sleep health, research shows

People whose jobs are highly sedentary – an estimated 80% of the modern workforce – are at much greater risk for insomnia symptoms, according to a new study led by psychologist Claire Smith of the University of South Florida.

The findings, new published in the Journal of Occupational Health PsychologyResearch shows that among more than 1,000 workers surveyed over the past decade, sedentary work and unusual working hours pose significant threats to sleep health.

These two factors, accelerated by technological changes such as increased computer work, are linked to a 37% increase in insomnia symptoms among sedentary workers and a 66% greater risk of needing ‘catch-up sleep’ – defined as frequent napping or sleeping in . weekends – for those who adhere to non-traditional work schedules.

“The way we design work poses a serious long-term threat to healthy sleep,” says Smith. “Healthy sleep means more than just getting eight hours. It’s also about falling asleep easily, sleeping through the night and having a consistent sleep schedule. Companies need to be aware of the specific sleep risks of their workforce to improve detection and intervention. improve.”

The study, based on data from the US Midlife National Study, identified three sleep health categories among workers over a ten-year period: good sleepers, catch-up sleepers and insomniac sleepers.

The study found that sedentary work is strongly linked to the category of insomniacs, who are characterized by symptoms such as difficulty falling asleep, interrupted sleep and frequent daytime fatigue. Meanwhile, workers with non-traditional schedules, such as working night shifts, were more likely to fall into the catch-up sleep group.

Smith said the research suggests that moving your body during the workday and limiting after-hours work can not only help you sleep well that night, but also protect against persistent sleep problems a decade later.

The research also shows that employees who fall into a pattern of poor sleep due to their work design, such as long hours of sedentary work or irregular schedules, can remain stuck in such unhealthy patterns for years. For example, 90% of insomniac sleepers saw their symptoms persist ten years later.

“This is especially important for both employers and employees, as research shows that poor sleep health is known to impact productivity, wellbeing and overall health,” says Smith, who led the project in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team from experts in psychology. psychiatry, aging and medicine.

She added that the findings suggest that redesigning jobs with sleep health in mind could be key to improving worker well-being and underscoring the need for workplace interventions that view sleep health as a dynamic, multi-faceted problem, rather than as a one-size-fits-all. problem.