The association between work interval regularity and sleep regularity: A two-week observational study in daytime employees.

OBJECTIVES: Several health issues are associated with irregular sleep patterns. However, it is unclear what causes workers to sleep irregularly. The work interval (WI) between the end of one day's working hours and the start of the next day's working hours contains sleep opportunities, and an irregular WI may result in irregular sleep. This study investigated this association among Japanese daytime workers.

METHODS: This study recruited 141 daytime workers without shiftwork for a 14-day observational study. Participants reported the WI duration, WI timing, time in bed (TIB: difference between bedtime and wake-up time), and bedtime timing every day before bedtime. The standard deviation (SD) over 14 days was used to calculate the regularity scores. Logistic regression analysis was performed. The dependent variables were ≥60 min of TIB SD and bedtime timing SD, whereas the independent variables were WI duration and timing SD.

RESULTS: The odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ≥60 min of TIB SD across categories of WI duration SD were 1.000 (reference) for <30 min, 1.344 (0.337-5.360) for 30-60 min, and 4.743 (1.441-15.607) for ≥60 min. The odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ≥60 min of bedtime timing SD across categories of WI timing SD were 1.000 for <30 min, 4.154 (1.574-10.965) for 30-60 min, and 7.714 (2.124-28.015) for ≥60 min.

CONCLUSIONS: Regularity of WI was associated with regularity of sleep. To ensure worker health, workers should have regular WI, and if they are exposed to irregular WI, they should make every effort to maintain regular sleep.