Work Stressors, Perseverative Cognition and Objective Sleep Quality: A Longitudinal Study among Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Pilots

Abstract

Work Stressors, Perseverative Cognition and Objective Sleep Quality: A Longitudinal Study among Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Pilots: Mirjam RADSTAAK, et al. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands— Objectives This longitudinal study examined the associations between work stressors, perseverative cognition and subjective and objective sleep quality. We hypothesized work stressors to be associated with (i) poor nocturnal sleep quality and (ii) higher levels of perseverative cognition during a free evening. We further hypothesized (iii) perseverative cognition to be associated with poor nocturnal sleep quality and (iv) the association between work stressors and sleep quality to be mediated by perseverative cognition. Methods The participants were 24 pilots working for the Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). They completed six questionnaires: at the end of three consecutive day shifts and each morning following the shifts. The questionnaires addressed work stressors (workload, distressing shifts and work‐related conflicts), subjective sleep quality and perseverative cognition. Participants wore actigraphs to assess sleep onset latency, total sleep time and number of awakenings. Results Correlation analysis revealed that (i) distressing shifts were related to delayed sleep onset (r=0.50, p=0.026) and that workload was related to impaired sleep quality (e.g., subjective sleep quality: r=−0.42, p=0.044). Moreover, (ii) distressing shifts were positively related to perseverative cognition (r=0.62, p=0.002), (iii) perseverative cognition delayed sleep onset (r=0.74, p<0.001) and (iv) mediated the association between distressing shifts and sleep onset latency. Conclusions Perseverative cognition may be an explanatory mechanism in the association between work stressors and poor sleep.

Social Stressors at Work, Sleep, and Recovery

“…This result strengthens the assumption that work stressors may lead to an incomplete recovery, even during periods of rest from work such as those on Sundays. During Sunday, psychophysiological activation may be sustained even when workers are no longer exposed to any job demand or stressor, for example, due to perseverative cognitions, as shown recently by a study on helicopter pilots (Radstaak et al 2014). Future studies should compare the relationship between social stressors at work and recovery on non-working Sundays both with preceding working Saturdays and also with preceding work-free Saturdays.…”

High-frequency heart rate variability during worry predicts stress-related increases in sleep disturbances

“…Moreover, lower HF-HRV has also been associated with greater emotional arousal in response to stress [22]. Poorer emotion regulation during stressful times is often translated into higher emotional and cognitive arousal at bedtime, which, in turn, is related to poorer sleep [70,71]. Impaired physiological, emotional, and cognitive arousal regulation thus represents potential pathways through which low HF-HRV might increase vulnerability to stress-related sleep disturbances.…”

Ever at the ready for events that never happen

“…We find the recent publication a satisfying reparation. Many studies have shown that excessive worrying can increase the risk of illness in the long term (Broadbent, Petrie, Alley, & Booth, 2003; Brosschot & van der Doef, 2006; Fortune et al, 2003; Gerin et al, 2012; Holman et al, 2008; Jellesma, Verkuil, & Brosschot, 2009; Radstaak, Geurts, Beckers, Brosschot, & Kompier, 2014; Thayer. & Brosschot, 2010; Tully, Cosh, & Baune, 2013; Van Laethem et al, 2015; Verhoeven et al, 2009; Verkuil et al, 2011; Verkuil & Brosschot, 2016; Verkuil, Brosschot, Gebhardt, & Korrelboom, 2015; Verkuil, Brosschot, Gebhardt, & Thayer, 2010; Verkuil, Brosschot, Meerman, & Thayer, 2012).…”