Sleep timing, workplace well-being and mental health in healthcare workers

Julien Coelho; Guillaume Lucas; Jean-Arthur Micoulaud-Franchi; Bach Tran; Dong Keon Yon; Jacques Taillard; Emmanuel D'Incau; Pierre Philip; Laurent Boyer; Guillaume Fond

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.013

Sleep timing, workplace well-being and mental health in healthcare workers

Sleep Med. 2023 Nov:111:123-132. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.013. Epub 2023 Sep 21.

Affiliations

¹ Univ. Bordeaux, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; CNRS, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; CHU Bordeaux, Service Universitaire de Médecine du sommeil, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
² Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, 27, boulevard Jean -Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France.
³ Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, 27, boulevard Jean -Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Center for Digital Health, Medical Science Research Institute, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
⁵ Univ. Bordeaux, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000, Bordeaux, France; CNRS, SANPSY, UMR 6033, F-33000, Bordeaux, France.
⁶ Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, CEReSS-Health Service Research and Quality of Life Center, 27, boulevard Jean -Moulin, 13005, Marseille, France; Fondation FondaMental, Créteil, France. Electronic address: guillaume.fond@gmail.com.

PMID: 37769583
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.09.013

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers face an elevated risk of burnout, sleep disorders, and mental health issues, potentially stemming from the misalignment of their circadian rhythm due to nonstandard work schedules. This cross-sectional survey aims to examine the connections between sleep timing, workplace well-being (including burnout and absenteeism), and mental health outcomes (specifically depression and poor sleep) in healthcare workers. Additionally, the survey takes into account individual and professional factors, as well as the interaction with work schedules.

Methods: The study encompasses 4,971 healthcare workers from both public and private healthcare facilities in France, including nurses, nursing assistants, and physicians recruited during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maslach Burnout Inventory assesses burnout, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale measures depression, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index evaluates poor sleep. Sleep timing is categorized into morning, neutral, and evening timing, referred to as midsleep. Multivariate logistic regression analysis is conducted to explore the relationships between sleep timing and burnout, depression, and poor sleep, while adjusting for various factors.

Results: The findings reveal that 56.5% of participants experience burnout, 29.8% report depression, and 64.5% report poor sleep. Nurses and nursing assistants exhibit a higher prevalence of poor sleep. Morning sleep timing is associated with burnout among those with fixed schedules and with depression among those with shift schedules. Among physicians, both morning and evening sleep timing are associated with depression, while morning sleep timing is linked to poor sleep across all subgroups.

Interpretation: This study suggests that the misalignment between healthcare workers' internal circadian rhythm and their work schedules may contribute to an increased risk of burnout, depression, and poor sleep. Occupational health services and policymakers should recognize the potential for enhancing workplace well-being and mental health outcomes by enabling healthcare workers to maintain sleep schedules that accommodate their needs.