Journal of sleep research | 2021
Daily stress and sleep associations vary by work schedule: A between- and within-person analysis in nurses.
Abstract
Nurses experience poor sleep and high stress due to demanding work environments. Night shift work is common among nurses and may exacerbate stress-sleep associations. We examined bidirectional associations between daily stress and sleep, and moderation by recent shift worker status and daily work schedule among nurses. Participants were 392 nurses (92% female; 78% White, mean age\xa0=\xa039.54, SD\xa0=\xa011.15) who completed 14\xa0days of electronic sleep diaries and actigraphy. They simultaneously completed assessments of daily stress and work schedule upon awakening (day shift vs. night shift [work between 9\xa0p.m.-6\xa0a.m.] vs. off work). Participants were classified as recent night shift workers if they worked at least one night shift during the past 14\xa0days (n\xa0=\xa0101; 26%). In the entire sample, greater daily stress predicted shorter self-reported total sleep time and lower self-reported sleep efficiency that night. Shorter self-reported and actigraphy total sleep time and lower self-reported sleep efficiency predicted higher next-day stress. Compared with recent night shift workers, day workers reported higher stress after nights with shorter total sleep time. Stress-sleep associations mostly did not vary by nurses daily work schedule. Sleep disturbances and stress may unfold in a toxic cycle and are prime targets for tailored interventions among nurses. Night shift workers may be less susceptible to the effects of short sleep on next-day stress. Research is needed to understand the short- and long-term effects of shift work and address the unique sleep challenges nurses face.