Sleep habits, daytime sleepiness and sleep quality of high school teachers.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the sleep-wake cycle, daytime sleepiness and sleep quality of high school teachers. Ninety-eight high school teachers participated in this study. They were asked to complete the Health and Sleep, Horne & Ostberg, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires and to keep a 14-day sleep diary. This study showed that high-school teachers wake up on average 1 h 12 min earlier (ANOVA; p < 0.05) and go to bed on average 34 min earlier (ANOVA; p < 0.05) during the week than on the weekend. This results in an average of 42 min less time in bed (ANOVA; p < 0.05) on weekdays and characterizes partial sleep deprivation. Moreover, 46% and 51% of teachers were diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality (χ2; p > 0.05), respectively. Therefore, high-school teachers show characteristics of partial sleep deprivation that may contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality. This situation may compromise health and quality of life, in addition to teaching performance that can affect the education of their students.

Work schedule influence on sleep habits in elementary and high school teachers according to chronotype

“…Moreover, these teachers increase their sleep duration on the weekend, possibly as compensation for the sleep deprivation resulting from the early work on weekdays. Similar results in workdays were observed in a previous study with high school teachers (Souza et al, 2012b) and in professionals of other areas (Groeger et al, 2004;Monk et al, 2000;Webb, 1985).…”

“…As reported in a previous study (Souza et al, 2012b), this outcome is a strong concern since shift work is nowadays considered a risk factor for cancer development (Hansen, 2005;Straif et al, 2007;Viswanathan, Hankinson, & Schernhammer, 2007), among other health problems.…”

“…Studies performed with Brazilian teachers about working conditions and vocal health found reports a 6.8 hr and 6 hr of sleep duration, however diff erences between weekdays and the weekend have not been evaluated (Ferreira et al, 2008;Vedovato & Monteiro, 2008). Similar sleep durations were observed in high school teachers which presented an average of 6.7 hr of sleep duration during the week and an increase of 42 minutes in sleep duration on the weekend, which may be due to partial sleep deprivation on workdays (Souza, Sousa, Belísio, & Azevedo, 2012b).…”

Effect of a sleep education program on sleep knowledge and habits in elementary and high school teachers

“…In a previous study, an average of 6.7 hours of time in bed was observed in Brazilian teachers during the week days, besides an extension of almost 42 minutes of this time on the weekend (Souza, Sousa, Belísio, & Azevedo, 2012b). The extension of sleep on work-free days is characteristic of a compensation of sleep deprivation on working days.…”

“…Studies evaluating sleep quality in teachers and shift workers observed similar average of poor sleep quality, using the same instrument the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Almondes & Araújo 2011;Souza et al, 2012b). Araújo et al (2005) had found that 22.6% of teachers complained about drowsiness and 14.1% of insomnia.…”