Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study
Abstract Background Atypical temporal work patterns such as working longer than the standard 35–40 h/ week, weekend working, and nonstandard work schedules (i.e. outside of the typical 9–5, including but not restricted to shiftwork) are increasingly prevalent in the UK. Aside from occupation-specifi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17762-0 |
| _version_ | 1797276303976562688 |
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| author | Gillian Weston Afshin Zilanawala Elizabeth Webb Livia Carvalho Anne McMunn |
| author_facet | Gillian Weston Afshin Zilanawala Elizabeth Webb Livia Carvalho Anne McMunn |
| author_sort | Gillian Weston |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Atypical temporal work patterns such as working longer than the standard 35–40 h/ week, weekend working, and nonstandard work schedules (i.e. outside of the typical 9–5, including but not restricted to shiftwork) are increasingly prevalent in the UK. Aside from occupation-specific studies, little is known about the effects of these atypical temporal work patterns on sleep among workers in the UK, even though poor sleep has been linked to adverse health problems, lower workplace productivity, and economic costs. Method We used regression models to investigate associations between three types of atypical temporal work patterns (long and short weekly work hours, weekend working, and nonstandard schedules) and sleep duration and disturbance using data from over 25,000 employed men and women from 2012–2014 and/or 2015–2017 in the UK Household Longitudinal Study, adjusting for potential confounders and psychosocial work factors. Results We found that relative to a standard 35–40 h/week, working 55 h/week or more was related to short sleep (less than 7 h/night) and sleep disturbance. Working most/all weekends compared to non-weekends was associated with short sleep, long sleep (more than 8 h/night), and sleep disturbance, as was working nonstandard schedules relative to standard schedules (fixed day-time schedules). Further analyses suggested some gender differences. Conclusions These results should prompt employers and policymakers to recognise the need for rest and recovery, consider how the timing and scheduling of work might be improved to better support workers’ health and productivity, and consider appropriate compensation for anyone required to work atypical temporal work patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:26:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa3067ac58ae40d687dcfe0cfa0d3831 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:26:20Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa3067ac58ae40d687dcfe0cfa0d38312024-03-05T17:07:40ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-01-0124111610.1186/s12889-024-17762-0Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal studyGillian Weston0Afshin Zilanawala1Elizabeth Webb2Livia Carvalho3Anne McMunn4ESRC International Centre for Lifecourse Studies, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College LondonDepartment of Social Statistics and Demography, University of SouthamptonAge UKDepartment of Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of LondonESRC International Centre for Lifecourse Studies, Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College LondonAbstract Background Atypical temporal work patterns such as working longer than the standard 35–40 h/ week, weekend working, and nonstandard work schedules (i.e. outside of the typical 9–5, including but not restricted to shiftwork) are increasingly prevalent in the UK. Aside from occupation-specific studies, little is known about the effects of these atypical temporal work patterns on sleep among workers in the UK, even though poor sleep has been linked to adverse health problems, lower workplace productivity, and economic costs. Method We used regression models to investigate associations between three types of atypical temporal work patterns (long and short weekly work hours, weekend working, and nonstandard schedules) and sleep duration and disturbance using data from over 25,000 employed men and women from 2012–2014 and/or 2015–2017 in the UK Household Longitudinal Study, adjusting for potential confounders and psychosocial work factors. Results We found that relative to a standard 35–40 h/week, working 55 h/week or more was related to short sleep (less than 7 h/night) and sleep disturbance. Working most/all weekends compared to non-weekends was associated with short sleep, long sleep (more than 8 h/night), and sleep disturbance, as was working nonstandard schedules relative to standard schedules (fixed day-time schedules). Further analyses suggested some gender differences. Conclusions These results should prompt employers and policymakers to recognise the need for rest and recovery, consider how the timing and scheduling of work might be improved to better support workers’ health and productivity, and consider appropriate compensation for anyone required to work atypical temporal work patterns.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17762-0Sleep disturbanceSleep durationWork hoursLong hoursPart-time hoursNonstandard work schedules |
| spellingShingle | Gillian Weston Afshin Zilanawala Elizabeth Webb Livia Carvalho Anne McMunn Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study BMC Public Health Sleep disturbance Sleep duration Work hours Long hours Part-time hours Nonstandard work schedules |
| title | Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study |
| title_full | Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study |
| title_short | Work hours, weekend working, nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality: findings from the UK household longitudinal study |
| title_sort | work hours weekend working nonstandard work schedules and sleep quantity and quality findings from the uk household longitudinal study |
| topic | Sleep disturbance Sleep duration Work hours Long hours Part-time hours Nonstandard work schedules |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17762-0 |
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