Poor Sleep Could Cost Over-50s Nine Months of Working Life, Study Finds

Sleep problems during middle age could reduce the amount of time people remain in work after turning 50, with severe sleep disturbances and unusually long sleep associated with a shorter expected working life, according to research by researchers at the University of Turku in Finland.

The study found that people with moderate sleep problems could expect to work almost five fewer months between the ages of 50 and 68 compared with those reporting no sleep disturbances. Those experiencing severe sleep disturbances could expect to work eight fewer months.

The association was observed regardless of gender or occupation, highlighting the potential importance of maintaining healthy sleep during middle age, particularly among people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The research also found that women without sleep disturbances had a longer expected working life between the ages of 50 and 68 than their male counterparts.

How Sleep Duration Was Measured

Researchers analysed data from the Finnish Public Sector (FPS) study and the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study. Participants reported their sleeping habits after turning 50.

Nightly sleep duration was divided into three categories:

• Short sleep: less than seven hours
• Mid-range sleep: between seven and 8.5 hours
• Long sleep: nine hours or more

Sleep disturbances covered several problems experienced during the four weeks before the survey, including difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, waking earlier than intended and nonrestorative sleep.

The researchers found that people with short and mid-range sleep durations both had an expected working life of 13 years and two months after turning 50.

By comparison, long nightly sleep was associated with an expected working life of 12 years and five months.

Professional Women Had the Longest Working Life Expectancy

The longest working life expectancy, at almost 14 years, was recorded among professional women who reported no sleep disturbances.

The shortest working life expectancy was found among men in routine occupations who experienced severe sleep disturbances, at nearly 12 and a half years.

Previous research has suggested that one in three workers across the UK experience a chronic lack of sleep.

Dr Saana Myllyntausta, lead investigator from the Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Turku, said:

"It was surprising that we found no differences between those with short sleep duration and those with mid-range sleep duration, that is 7–9 hours per night, which is considered the optimal amount of sleep."

— Dr Saana Myllyntausta, University of Turku

Myllyntausta added:

"Short sleep duration has been previously linked in some studies to, for example, earlier retirement. Long sleep duration, on the other hand, was associated with shorter working life expectancy, and it has also been linked to poorer health outcomes, which might explain the shorter working career."

— Dr Saana Myllyntausta, University of Turku

She also stressed the importance of addressing sleep problems during working life:

"Our findings highlight the importance of supporting sleep health and treating sleep problems, particularly among those with low socioeconomic status, during middle age."

— Dr Saana Myllyntausta, University of Turku

Myllyntausta said interventions delivered through occupational health services, including treatment for insomnia, as well as workplace education and health-promotion programmes focused on sleep, had previously been found to support sleep among working-age adults.

Supporting Sleep Health in Midlife

The researchers concluded that improving sleep health and providing support for sleep disturbances during midlife may be particularly important for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds when seeking to increase workforce participation as people age.

The study highlighted potential approaches including cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia delivered through occupational health services, alongside workplace interventions such as sleep education and health-promotion programmes.

The researchers also acknowledged several limitations. The study could not account for other factors that may influence working life expectancy, including physical and mental health, underlying health conditions, risky health behaviours and working conditions such as shift work.

Key Takeaways

• Severe sleep disturbances were associated with an expected working life that was eight months shorter after age 50 compared with no sleep disturbances.
• Moderate sleep problems were associated with almost five fewer months of expected working life between ages 50 and 68.
• People with short and mid-range sleep durations both had an expected working life of 13 years and two months after turning 50.
• Long nightly sleep of nine hours or more was associated with an expected working life of 12 years and five months.
• The researchers highlighted the importance of supporting sleep health during middle age, particularly among people with lower socioeconomic status.

Conclusion

The Finnish research suggests that sleep health may be an important factor associated with working life expectancy after age 50. While the study does not establish that sleep problems directly cause earlier withdrawal from work, its findings underline the potential value of identifying and treating sleep disturbances during middle age.

The researchers also noted that several health and workplace factors were not accounted for, meaning sleep should be considered alongside the broader circumstances that influence how long people remain in employment.

Reference

Source: University of Turku, Finland