Health care workers are frazzled – and poor sleep may turn stress into poor mental health

Health care workers are frazzled – and poor sleep may turn stress into poor mental health

Health care workers face multiple challenges

Health care workers are known for their dedication to their patients, often putting their own health and well-being on the backburner. As a result, they frequently experience short and poor-quality sleep, which can have severe consequences not only for their own health but also for patient safety. Research has shown that a lack of sleep can increase the risk of making errors that can affect patient safety.

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As an occupational health researcher, I have studied the work, sleep, and health of health care workers. My research has found that emotional labor – such as using fake smiles to hide true feelings – and work-family conflict – such as clashing demands between roles at work and at home – are both linked to depressive symptoms among health care workers. Moreover, poor sleep quality can amplify the effects of these stressors, resulting in worse mental health.

Poor sleep and mental health

The U.S. National Health Interview Survey found that 36% of workers had an average sleep duration of less than seven hours a day in 2018. A minimum of seven hours of sleep is recommended for optimum health and well-being. Sleep deprivation is increased among health care workers, affecting 45% of those surveyed. In fact, our research found an even higher rate: Over half of the health care workers we studied reported fewer than seven hours of sleep per day, and one-third complained of sleep disturbances.

Moreover, we found that one-quarter of these health care workers experienced depressive symptoms, a rate three times higher than the depression prevalence of the general U.S. population. Sleep plays a critical role in mental health. Short or poor sleep is a strong risk factor for depression and poor mental well-being. And it is well known that stress can interfere with sleep quality.

How can health care workers improve their sleep?

The most common nondrug-based recommendations to improve the sleep of shift workers include scheduling, bright light exposure, napping, sleep hygiene education, and cognitive behavioral therapy. There is no concrete evidence yet available on the best sleep schedule for health care workers on night or rotating shifts. However, while most night workers begin their daytime sleep shortly after returning home in the morning, laboratory studies on older adults found better night shift alertness and performance and longer sleep duration with an afternoon-evening sleep schedule.

Workplace is critical to improving sleep

Building a healthy work environment is a critical and meaningful way to improve sleep. A large number of work stressors – such as shift work, work demands, lack of social support, workplace hazards, and negative behaviors of co-workers – all contribute to the poor sleep of health care workers. Evidence-based workplace programs that prevent workplace violence, provide emotional support after difficult incidents, and offer flexible scheduling could all help reduce the underlying problems behind poor sleep.

Conclusion

In conclusion, health care workers are frazzled, and poor sleep may turn stress into poor mental health. The consequences of poor sleep are severe, affecting not only the health care workers themselves but also patient safety. To address this issue, it is essential to create a healthy work environment that promotes sleep and reduces work-related stressors. By providing education and training on sleep hygiene, offering flexible scheduling, and promoting a culture of well-being, we can help health care workers get the sleep they need to perform at their best.

FAQs

Q: What are the consequences of poor sleep for health care workers?
A: Poor sleep can increase the risk of making errors that can affect patient safety, and it can also contribute to depressive symptoms and poor mental well-being.

Q: What are some common stressors faced by health care workers?
A: Shift work, work demands, lack of social support, workplace hazards, and negative behaviors of co-workers are all common stressors faced by health care workers.

Q: How can health care workers improve their sleep?
A: The most common nondrug-based recommendations to improve sleep include scheduling, bright light exposure, napping, sleep hygiene education, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Q: What is the best sleep schedule for health care workers on night or rotating shifts?
A: There is no concrete evidence yet available on the best sleep schedule for health care workers on night or rotating shifts. However, laboratory studies on older adults found better night shift alertness and performance and longer sleep duration with an afternoon-evening sleep schedule.