Better Night’s Sleep and Subjective Cognition: The Role of Day and Night Work Shifts

Abstract Previous research indicates poor sleep and cognitive functioning are associated. Studies have yet to consider the role of work shift on this relationship. The current study examined the sleep and subjective cognition relationship in nurses, and if this relationship differed for day- and night- shift nurses. Sixty-one nurses (M=35.39, SD=11.73; 39 day-, 22 night-shift) reported their nightly sleep characteristics and next-day subjective cognition (i.e., processing speed, memory, and mental focus) using ecological momentary assessments for 2 weeks. Multilevel models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics and decomposed the variance attributed by between- and within-person levels. At the within-person level, better sleep the previous night was associated with better subjective cognition the following day. This relationship was more apparent in night-shift nurses than in day-shift nurses, such that (a) longer sleep duration predicted better mental focus (B=1.62, p<.05) and (b) higher sleep quality predicted better memory (B=8.67, p<.001). At the between-person level, better sleep overall was associated with better subjective cognition across days. This association was more apparent in day-shift nurses than in night-shift nurses, such that (a) better sleep quality and sufficiency predicted faster processing speed (B=34.33; B=26.28; p<.001) and (b) better sleep quality and greater sleep sufficiency predicted better memory (B=30.94; B=23.09; p<.001). Findings suggest that sleep characteristics are associated with subjective cognition in nurses day-to-day and on average. Specific sleep characteristics associated with subjective cognition differ between day- and night-shift nurses, presumably due to differences in their sleep issues and perceived cognitive abilities.

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Poor Sleep Health and Next Day Work Impairment: The Mediating Role of Fatigue

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1384 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 428-429

Author(s):

Breann LaRocque ◽

Christina Mu ◽

Soomi Lee

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Work Performance ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Work Impairment ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Healthcare Professions ◽

Ecological Momentary

Abstract Nightly sleep impacts next-day alertness and cognitive functioning. For healthcare professions, work impairment can be life-threatening for patients. Thus, understanding how sleep affects work quality is imperative to promoting medical safety and overall health of workers. The current study investigated whether nightly sleep health is associated with next-day work impairment in nurses and whether this association is mediated by daily fatigue. Sixty nurses reported their sleep characteristics, fatigue, and work impairment using ecological momentary assessment for two weeks. We used a series of multilevel models (a path: sleep→fatigue, b path: fatigue→work impairment, c path: sleep→work impairment, c′ path: sleep and fatigue→work impairment), adjusting for sociodemographics and work shift. At the between-person level, poorer sleep quality was associated with greater work impairment (βc=-23.36, p<.001). This association was mediated by fatigue such that poorer sleep quality was associated with greater fatigue (βa=-19.54, p<.01), which was further associated with greater work impairment (βb=0.79, p<.001). After including fatigue, the association of sleep quality with work impairment was reduced (βc′ =-7.07, p=.08). Similarly, fatigue mediated the relationship between sleep sufficiency and work impairment (βa=-16.49; βb=0.79; βc=-19.36; p<.001; βc′ =-6.32, p=.05). At the within-person level, on days after long sleep duration (>8hrs), nurses reported greater work impairment (βc=10.08, p<.01), however, this was not mediated by fatigue. Our results suggest that poor sleep health may impair next-day work performance, mostly through increased fatigue. Future interventions for nurses can target daily fatigue to reduce the adverse effects of poor sleep on work impairment.

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Daily Association Between Sleep and Stressors: Role of Caregiving at Work and Home

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1374 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 425-426

Author(s):

Taylor Harris ◽

Taylor Vigoureux ◽

Soomi Lee

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Multilevel Modeling ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Work Characteristics ◽

Sleep Health ◽

Future Studies ◽

Number Of Children ◽

Ecological Momentary

Abstract Previous research shows that adults with children experience poor sleep. We know that poor sleep is associated with experiencing more frequent and severe stressors (i.e, subjective feelings of believing his/her life is uncontrollable, unpredictable and overloading) the following day. This study examined whether the sleep—stressor relationship is stronger for individuals with children than those without. Participants were 61 oncology nurses (92% female). Participants completed a background survey that assessed sociodemographic and work characteristics. Using 14 days of ecological momentary assessments, participants reported their sleep characteristics daily upon waking. Three times daily, they also reported whether they experienced any stressors and how severe those stressors were. Multilevel modeling was used to assess whether the sleep—stressor relationship was stronger in nurses with children than those without. After controlling for sociodemographic covariates, poorer sleep quality was associated with more severe stressors. This daily association was moderated by the presence of children (B=-16.89, p<.01); the association was apparent for individuals with children (B=-5.74, p<.05), but not for those without. The daily association for sleep quality and stressor frequency also differed by the presence of children (B=-0.22, p<.01), although the slope for individuals without children did not reach the statistical significance. These findings suggest that individuals with children are at risk for experiencing a stronger linkage between poorer sleep and greater stressor severity. Improving sleep health among adults with children is critical for stress management. Future studies should examine whether age of children or number of children further influences the sleep—stressor relationship.

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The Role of Sleep Quality, Trait Anxiety and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Measures in Cognitive Abilities of Healthy Individuals

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207600 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7600

Author(s):

Javier Labad ◽

Neus Salvat-Pujol ◽

Antonio Armario ◽

Ángel Cabezas ◽

Aida de Arriba-Arnau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Hpa Axis ◽

Trait Anxiety ◽

Processing Speed ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Visual Memory ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Memory Processing ◽

The Relationship

Sleep plays a crucial role in cognitive processes. Sleep and wake memory consolidation seem to be regulated by glucocorticoids, pointing out the potential role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive abilities. Trait anxiety is another factor that is likely to moderate the relationship between sleep and cognition, because poorer sleep quality and subtle HPA axis abnormalities have been reported in people with high trait anxiety. The current study aimed to explore whether HPA axis activity or trait anxiety moderate the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive abilities in healthy individuals. We studied 203 healthy individuals. We measured verbal and visual memory, working memory, processing speed, attention and executive function. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Trait anxiety was assessed with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. HPA axis measures included the cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope and cortisol levels during the day. Multiple linear regression analyses explored the relationship between sleep quality and cognition and tested potential moderating effects by HPA axis measures and trait anxiety. Poor sleep quality was associated with poorer performance in memory, processing speed and executive function tasks. In people with poorer sleep quality, a blunted CAR was associated with poorer verbal and visual memory and executive functions, and higher cortisol levels during the day were associated with poorer processing speed. Trait anxiety was a moderator of visual memory and executive functioning. These results suggest that subtle abnormalities in the HPA axis and higher trait anxiety contribute to the relationship between lower sleep quality and poorer cognitive functioning in healthy individuals.

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Rumination and dissociation: The mediating role of poor sleep quality and presleep cognitions.

Psychology of Consciousness Theory Research and Practice ◽

10.1037/cns0000128 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 185-211 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Miriam Vannikov-Lugassi ◽

Nirit Soffer-Dudek

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Mediating Role

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Poor sleep quality predicts decline in physical health functioning in patients with coronary heart disease and moderating role of social support

Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1080/08964289.2021.1895050 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Biing-Jiun Shen ◽

Jonathan Jun Liang Tan ◽

Yue Xu ◽

Hung Yong Tay

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Physical Health ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Health Functioning ◽

Moderating Role

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Association Between Sleep Quality and Subjective Fatigue in Night-Shift Nurses with Good and Poor Sleep

Sleep and Vigilance ◽

10.1007/s41782-018-0036-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 63-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tomohisa Ichiba ◽

Sofya Gorlova ◽

Yoshinao Nagashima ◽

Michiyo Aitake ◽

Etsuro Hori ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Night Shift ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Subjective Fatigue

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Serotonin variations and sleep disorders among shift workers. A cross-sectional study

Toxicology and Industrial Health ◽

10.1177/07482337211033135 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 074823372110331

Author(s):

Rehab Shehata Abdelhady Shehata ◽

Zeinab Ahmed Mohamed Nour ◽

Amul Mohamed Abdelrahim Badr ◽

Eman Mahmoud Khalifa

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Shift Work ◽

Night Shift ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Serotonin Level ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Blood Serotonin

Sleep disorders are prevalent occupational health problems among shift workers, especially healthcare workers with long shifts. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter related to circadian variations accompanied by shift work. A cross-sectional study was performed on 73 nurses at a tertiary hospital in Cairo, Egypt, to assess sleep quality among shift work nurses (SWNs), to determine blood serotonin level, and its relation to shift work and sleep quality. A demographic and occupational history questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and measurement of blood serotonin were carried out to the studied group. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25, and descriptive statistics, unpaired t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis Test, Chi-square, Spearman correlation, and multivariate regression analysis were utilized. The results showed that the mean PSQI global score was significantly higher among SWNs than non-shift work nurses (NSWNs) and was the highest (10.32 ± 3.56 and 10.22 ± 2.4, respectively) among rotatory and fixed night shift nurses. Blood serotonin showed highly significant differences between SWNs over NSWNs ( p = 0.001), and mostly reduced among rotatory and fixed night shift nurses (66.7% and 65%, respectively). Moreover, there were highly significant differences in serotonin levels between poor and good sleep quality nurses ( p < 0.001), and most of the poor sleep quality nurses (62.7%) had low serotonin levels. Abnormal serotonin level (odds = 246.5) and working years (odds = 1.2) were statistically significant predictors of poor sleep quality. In conclusion, SWNs, especially rotating and night shift nurses, suffer from poor sleep quality associated with abnormal levels of blood serotonin.

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Interpersonal Tensions and Pain Among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Negative Mood

Research on Aging ◽

10.1177/0164027519884765 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 42 (3-4) ◽

pp. 105-114

Author(s):

Jamie L. Fuentecilla ◽

Meng Huo ◽

Kira S. Birditt ◽

Susan T. Charles ◽

Karen L. Fingerman

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Multilevel Models ◽

Negative Mood ◽

Physical Pain ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Social Partners ◽

Social Encounters ◽

Ecological Momentary ◽

Daily Pain

Objectives: To examine whether (a) negative social encounters and physical pain are linked throughout the day, (b) negative mood mediates these associations, and (c) these associations vary by closeness with social partners. Method: Adults aged 65+ ( n = 313) completed ecological momentary assessments and reported their negative social encounters, physical pain, and mood every 3 hr throughout the day for 5–6 days. Results: Multilevel models revealed that negative social encounters were associated with greater pain at each 3-hr interval and that this association was mediated by negative mood during the same interval. Negative encounters with less close partners were associated with pain, but negative encounters with close partners were not. Discussion: Regulating older adults’ negative emotions may be crucial to improving their daily pain. Further, interventions focusing on negative encounters with less close partners in daily life may help mitigate older adults’ experiences of pain throughout the day.

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The Relationship between Insecure Attachment to Depression: Mediating Role of Sleep and Cognitive Reappraisal

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2020/1931737 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yige Liu ◽

Hongfan Li ◽

Xiayue Xu ◽

Yukun Li ◽

Zhutao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Emotional Disorders ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

Close Relationship

Previously, we have shown that neuromodulators are important factors in stress-induced emotional disorders, such as depression, for example, serotonin is the major substance for depression. Many psychological studies have proved that depression is due to insecure attachment. In addition, sleep is a major symptom of depression. Furthermore, serotonin is the substrate for both sleep and depression. To explore the role of sleep in the relationships between insecure attachment and depression, we investigated 755 college students with Close Relationship Inventory, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Self-rated Depression Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The results showed that (1) insecure attachment positively predicted poor sleep quality; (2) sleep quality partially affected depression, possibly due the same stress neuromodulators such as norepinephrine and cortisol; and (3) cognitive reappraisal moderated the mediating path leading from attachment anxiety to poor sleep quality. These findings highlight the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal in the effects of attachment anxiety on sleep quality and finally on depression. In conclusion, sleep quality links attachment anxiety and emotional disorders.

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