Association between shift work and poor sleep quality in an Asian multi-ethnic working population: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to examine the association between shift work and sleep quality in a diverse occupational type.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of self-reported sleep quality in 424 workers aged ≥21 using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We divided workers into two categories based on their PSQI score: (a) ≤5 (good sleep quality) and (b) >5 (poor sleep quality). We used multiple logistic regressions to assess the association between shift work and sleep quality adjusted for potential confounders.ResultsThe mean age was 39.2 (SD = 11.3) years, with shift workers being older than their counterparts. Most workers were of Chinese ethnicity (63.9%). Males were significantly more likely to undertake shift work than females (89% v 11%, p-valueConclusionShift work was significantly and independently associated with increased odds of poor sleep quality in this sample of workers. The present findings may inform employment guidelines and help develop workplace health promotion interventions aimed at improving sleep quality among workers and ultimately lead to a healthier workforce.