Different levels of work-related stress and the effects on sleep, fatigue and cortisol

Abstract

Dahlgren A, Kecklund G, Åkerstedt T. Different levels of work-related stress and the effects on sleep, fatigue and cortisol. Scand J Work Environ Health 2005;31(4):277-285.Objectives The aim of the study was to relate different levels of work stress to measures of sleep and the diurnal pattern of salivary cortisol and subjective sleepiness.Methods Thirty-four white-collar workers participated under two different conditions. One workweek with a relatively high stress level (H) and one with a lower stress level (L) as measured through self-rated stress during workdays. The workers wore activity monitors, filled out a sleep diary, gave saliva samples (for cortisol), and rated their sleepiness and stress during one workday and one free day.Results During the week with stress the number of workhours increased and total sleep time decreased.Sleepiness showed a significant interaction between weeks and time of day, with particularly high levels towards the evenings of the stress week. Cortisol also showed a significant interaction, with a more flattened pattern, probably due to increased evening levels during the stress week. Stress (restlessness) at bedtime was significantly increased during the stress week. ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that a workweek with a high workload and much stress increases sleepiness and workhours, impairs sleep, and affects the pattern of diurnal cortisol secretion.

Overtime work and its effects on sleep, sleepiness, cortisol and blood pressure in an experimental field study

“…This finding can be compared with that of a similar study of a week of high stress and workload, with a natural occurrence of overtime work (average workday 9 hours and 23 minutes), which showed how negative effects on stress and stress or restlessness at bedtime and sleep duration continued into the following weekend (35). This comparison suggests that moderate overtime work in combination with work-related stress has more negative effects on recuperation during weekends than extreme overtime work in the absence of elevated workload.…”

“…If how the effects of overtime work are related to work demands is to be fully understood, it would be preferable to manipulate both workhours and workload. In a previous study (35), we manipulated the level of workload and stress, whereas the present study involved the manipulation of workhours. In the previous study there was a natural occurrence of moderate overtime work, and the results showed negative effects on sleepiness, sleep, stress, and physiological stress markers.…”

Recovery as an explanatory mechanism in the relation between acute stress reactions and chronic health impairment

“…For instance, in an unpublished study of Van Hooff, Geurts, Kompier and Taris, it was demonstrated that academic staff members who expended high effort during a regular workday, experienced higher levels of fatigue during the evening hours and during the weekend, as well as lower sleep quality during the workweek. In a similar vein, Dahlgren et al (28) showed that Swedish office workers had more difficulty falling asleep (although they felt tired) and had a shortened sleep length during a stressful week as compared with a workweek characterized by low stress. A similar finding was reported for driving examiners; they reported more trouble falling asleep during the night after an intensified workday (29).…”

Associations between stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances and dental students’ oral health-related behaviours: Changes throughout academic year

“…10 The most notable risk factors for insomnia are: female sex, low levels of physical activity and high levels of perceived stress. 11 Consequently, both sleep disturbances and stress may lead to fatigue, which is a major component of the Burnout syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. 12,13 It is possible that stress, fatigue or sleep disturbance might interfere with dental students' daily oral healthrelated behavior.…”