Work factors that predict sleep problems revealed

Washington D.C: A recent research has revealed the specific psychological and social work factors that are associated with sleep problems.

Results show that quantitative job demands, decision control, role conflict and support from a superior in the workplace were the most consistent predictors of troubled sleep, which was characterized by difficulty initiating sleep or disturbed sleep.

Findings remained significant after adjustment for potential con-founders such as age, sex and occupation skill level. Lead author Jolien Vleeshouwers from the National Institute of Occupational Health in Oslo, Norway said, "Apart from raising a general awareness of the significance of these factors for health and well-being, the results should be directly applicable in practical efforts to target sleep problems among employees."

Vleeshouwers added that since these work factors are relatively specific and modifiable, intervention programs may be developed to target employees' appraisal of these work factors in order to improve sleep, which could in turn have an effect on health, sickness, absence and productivity.

The study involved Norwegian employees from 63 different companies, covering a wide variety of jobs. The General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work was used to explore factors such as quantitative job demands, decision control, role conflict and support from superiors.

According to the authors, the results support the Demand-Control-(Support) Model, which states that negative health effects may result from a combination of high job demands and low job control.