Work

Associations between parental shift work and children's sleep behavior in a sample of health care workers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To identify family- and work-related factors of shift-working parents associated with various aspects of children's sleep behavior. Additionally, the study aimed to explore further potential influences on the relationship between shift work and children's sleep. METHODS: Data were collected in working parents using a nationwide online survey. The survey relied on parent-reported information about their youngest child addressing the following domains: demographics, working patterns, children's and parents' sleep habits, duration and bedtime routines. Standardized instruments included the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-score. RESULTS: A total of 770 parents participated. 627 (82 %) were female; mean age 37.7 ± 1.2 years. Families had on average 1.8 children (mean child age 7.9 years; youngest child 5.7 years). In 503 (65 %) families at least one parent worked in shifts and in 160 (21 %) families both parents were shift-workers. Overall, no substantial differences were found in parent-reported child-sleep duration, or general sleep quality across shift work groups. Exploratory analyses suggested a moderating effect of job satisfaction and parental sleep quality on the association between child parasomnia and shift work. CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study, most aspects of children's sleep parameters did not differ between families with or without shift work, based on parent-reported measures. While a weak statistical association was observed between parasomnia scores, the effect size was limited. Future research should consider the role of work schedules in supporting family sleep health, especially in shift-working households.

Source: Sleep Medicine

DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.106895

Authors: Judith Dechantsreiter, Angelika Schlarb, Stephan Goerigk, Ann-Cathrine Neukamm, Christian F. Poets, Mirja Quante

Institutions: University of Tübingen, Bielefeld University, Charlotte Fresenius Hochschule, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,350