Long work and short sleep ; Is it really a bad life style?

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We found no relationship between the length of time in work and health problems of workers.Previous literature suggested that several factors; I.e., type of work, quality of job, human relationship at work place, and everyday life style, affect worker's physical and mental health. We specifically focused on the relationships between habitual sleep pattern and sleep problems and worker's mental health in the present study.We conducted a survey by a questionnaire with several items on conditions about the employment and the sleep parameters of 885 workers. Type of work, bedtime, rise time, total sleep time, irregularity of mealtime, and amount of physical exercise were found to be important factors for worker's health problems. Especially 'sleepiness on holidays' and 'bedtime' were significant explaining variables for level of depressiveness, measured by SDS (Self-rating Depression Scale).We conducted additional survey on 384 workers with a questionnaire on items previously employed and new ones on 'coping behavior' and 'developmental status,' and investigated relationship between sleep variables, length of work time and health problem measured by GHQ (General Health Questionnaire). The results showed that 'working long' and 'sleeping short' did not directly affect worker's mental health, but 'overtime work' and 'shift work schedules' turned out to have significant effects on their mental health through lifestyle and habitual sleep patterns. The results revealed that 'coping behavior' and 'developmental status' should be taken into account for understanding the process concerning relationship between work and mental stress.We made and are distributing a brochure where the results mentioned above were explained. We are now planning the future study to confirm the effects of the brochure on hygiene of the sleep and lifestyle of workers using an activity-monitoring device.