Comparison of adult shift and non-shift workers’ physical activity and sleep behaviours: cross-sectional analysis from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) cohort

Abstract

Aim This study compares the pattern of physical activity and sleep between shift and non-shift workers using a novel physical activity–sleep index. By drawing from a diverse occupational population, this research aims to reduce any occupational specific biases which are prevalent in shift-work research. Subject and methods Current data included 7607 workers (shift workers n = 832) from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia cohort study. The combined physical activity–sleep index comprised three physical activity components and three sleep health components: achieving moderate (1pt) or high (2pts) IPAQ classification; accruing ≥30% of physical activity as vigorous intensity (1pt); meeting sleep duration recommendations on a work night (1pt); and non-work night (1pt); and reporting no insomnia symptoms (1pt) (higher score = healthy behaviour, max. 6). Generalised linear modelling was used to compare behaviours of shift and non-shift workers. Results Findings showed shift workers reported significantly lower activity–sleep scores (3.59 vs 3.73, p < 0.001), lower sleep behaviour sub-score (2.01 vs. 2.22, p < 0.001) and were more likely to report insomnia symptoms (p < 0.001) compared to non-shift workers. No difference was reported for overall physical activity (shift = 1.58 vs. non-shift = 1.51, p = 0.383). Conclusion When viewed in conjunction using the combined activity–sleep index, shift workers displayed significantly poorer combined behaviours when compared to non-shift workers.

The impact of sleep quality on mental health in working Australians: A quasi-experimental approach

“…One of the possible strategies is to look for suitable instruments for each group in order to apply the instrumental variables method appropriately. Additionally, all sleep data used in this paper were self-reported, which can be subject to recall bias; Fenwick et al (2022) had proposed the usage of accelerometers to overcome such bias.…”

The impact of sleep quality on mental health in working Australians: A quasi-experimental approach

“…Lastly, it's important to note that all sleep data used in this study were self-reported, which can be subject to recall bias. The use of accelerometers, as proposed by Fenwick et al (2022), could improve the accuracy of sleep data in future studies.…”

“…A few studies found strong associations between mental health and sleep quality. For example, using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, Duncan et al (2022) found that individuals aged 18 and above with insomnia had significantly higher odds of having poor mental health compared to individuals without insomnia. In another Singaporean study on 329 full-time workers, Dunleavy et al (2019) also reported an association between subjective sleep quality and impaired mental health.…”