Work Intensity and Workers' Sleep

Abstract

Experiencing poor sleep quality affects an individual’s health and wellbeing. Sleep quality may be influenced by work conditions, with working under high intensity a possible contributor. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey waves 2013 and 2017, this study investigates whether experiencing poor sleep quality is associated with work intensity. This study uses a nationally representative sample of working Australian individuals aged 25–64 from the HILDA survey and finds a strong positive association between work intensity and sleep quality, with an individual’s sleep quality worsening as their work intensity increased. The association between work intensity and sleep quality is even stronger than that between long work hours and sleep quality.