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Psychosocial work factors and sleep problems: findings from the French national SIP survey

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Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed at exploring the cross-sectional and prospective associations between psychosocial work factors and sleep problems.

Methods

The study population consisted of a national representative sample of the French working population (SIP survey). The sample sizes were 7506 and 3555 for the cross-sectional and prospective analyses. Sleep problems were defined by either sleep disturbances or insufficient sleep duration at least several times a week. Psychosocial work factors included classical (job strain model factors) and emergent factors (recognition, insecurity, role/ethical conflict, emotional demands, work–life imbalance, etc.). Occupational factors related to working time/hours and physical work environment were also included as well as covariates related to factors outside work. Statistical analyses were performed using weighted Poisson regression analysis.

Results

In the cross-sectional analyses, psychological demands, low social support, low recognition, emotional demands, perception of danger, work–life imbalance and night work were found to be associated with sleep problems. In the prospective analyses, psychological demands and night work were predictive of sleep problems. Using a less conservative method, more factors were found to be associated with sleep problems. Dose–response associations were observed, showing that the more frequent the exposure to these factors, the higher the risk of sleep problems. No effect of repeated exposure was found on sleep problems.

Conclusion

Classical and emergent psychosocial work factors were associated with sleep problems. More prospective studies and prevention policies may be needed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the members of the DARES, DREES, CEE and INSEE and all the people who participated in the SIP survey and made this study possible.

Funding

French Minister of Labour (DARES, Grant No 2200727156).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Epidemiology, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, UMR_S 1136, INSERM, 75013, Paris, France

    Emilie Chazelle, Jean-François Chastang & Isabelle Niedhammer

  2. Department of Social Epidemiology, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR_S 1136, Sorbonne Universités, 75013, Paris, France

    Emilie Chazelle, Jean-François Chastang & Isabelle Niedhammer

Authors
  1. Emilie Chazelle
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  2. Jean-François Chastang
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  3. Isabelle Niedhammer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Isabelle Niedhammer.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendix: List of the studied occupational factors and their items

Appendix: List of the studied occupational factors and their items

Classical psychosocial work factors:

  • psychological demands (3 items, work under pressure, too many things to do and excessive amount of work)

  • decision latitude (2 items, freedom to decide how to do the work and use of skills)

  • social support at work (1 item, good relationships with colleagues)

Emergent psychosocial work factors:

  • recognition (1 item, fair feedback on the work done)

  • job insecurity (1 item, fear of job loss)

  • role conflict (1 item, not being able to work following best practices)

  • ethical conflict (1 item, exposure to unethical situations)

  • emotional demands (1 item, hiding feelings at work)

  • job performance (1 item, wage or promotion dependent on performance/productivity)

  • tensions with the public (1 item, tensions with users, students, patients, customers, etc.)

  • perception of danger at work (1 item, fear for his/her own safety or the safety of others)

  • work–life imbalance (1 item: work in line with family life).

Working time/hours variables:

  • long working hours (1 item, ≥48 h/week)

  • night work (1 item, work hours between 12 and 5 a.m.)

  • shift work (1 item, work on alternating shifts)

  • predictability of schedules (1 item, irregular hours difficult to predict)

Other occupational exposures:

  • biomechanical exposure (3 items, manual materials handling, other biomechanical constraints and vibrations)

  • physical exposure (2 items, loud noise and extreme temperatures)

  • chemical exposure (1 item, exposure to dust, fume, chemical products or germs)

  • assembly-line work or repetitive work under time constraint (1 item).

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Chazelle, E., Chastang, JF. & Niedhammer, I. Psychosocial work factors and sleep problems: findings from the French national SIP survey. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 485–495 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1087-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1087-1

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