Association of Sleep Quality and Free Time Leisure Activities in Japanese and British Civil Servants

Abstract

Association of Sleep Quality and FreeTime Leisure Activities in Japanese and British Civil Servants: Ali NASERMOADDELI, et al. Department of Welfare Promotion and Epidemiology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University-Sleep disturbance as a pervasive health problem can directly affect the physical and psychological well-being of individuals. Factors that positively relate to sleep quality can therefore improve healthy functioning. We examined whether leisure time activities are associated with sleep quality in two culturally different samples of civil servants. In this cross-sectional study we evaluated 1,682 Japanese, in Toyama prefecture (T) city, and 6,914 British civil servants from the Whitehall II study undertaken in London. The Japanese version of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI-J) was used in T city and Jenkins' sleep problem scale was used in the Whitehall II study. Setting a validated cut-off point of 5.5 for the PSQI-J global score and the upper tertile point for the Jenkins' sleep problem scale, we conducted logistic regression analysis to assess the association between leisure time activities and sleep quality. In both populations, those who participated in voluntary activities in clubs or organizations were significantly less likely to have poor sleep quality with Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) of 0.73 (95%CI; 0.56-0.97) and 0.85 (95%CI; 0.76-0.95) in Japanese and British civil servants, respectively. Similar findings were apparent for visiting friends and relatives (ORs 0.60 (95%CI; 0.46-0.80) and 0.71 (95%CI; 0.56-0.90) for Japanese and British subjects, respectively). Our findings suggest that engagement in social leisure activities is associated with better sleep quality and consequently better general well-being. (J Occup Health 2005; 47: 384-390)

Psychometric Validation of the Urdu Version of the Jenkins Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire

“…In previous researches using JSEQ, Cronbach's alpha was 0.78 for middleaged women, [10] 0.80 for patients with unexplained chest pain, [11] and 0.77 for Japanese and British civil servants. [12] In current study, Cronbach's alpha was 0.69, slightly lower but still acceptable. Comparable to the findings of original as well as other translations of JSEQ, [1,3] 2 week test-retest reliability was excellent in our study.…”

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Jenkins Sleep Scale in a sample of Portuguese shift workers

“…In other studies using the JSS, the Cronbach's alpha was .80 in patients with unexplained chest pain (Jerlock, Gaston-Johanson, Kjellgren, & Welin, 2006), and .77 in Japanese and British civil servants (Nasermoaddeli et al, 2005).…”

Independent association of sleep quality, fatigue, and vital exhaustion with platelet count in patients with a previous venous thromboembolic event

“…Higher sleep quality is indicated by a lower score. The internal consistency of the sleep scale has been tested and found to be good by the authors of the original scale in a sample of German factory workers and in British civil servants (Cornbach's ¼ 0.77-0.79) [24,29]. Participants were eligible if they had complete data for all four items of the JSQ.…”