Job Strain and Self-Reported Insomnia Symptoms among Nurses: What about the Influence of Emotional Demands and Social Support?

Abstract

Job strain, derived from high psychological demands and low job control, is associated with insomnia, but information on the role of emotional demands and social support in this relationship is scarce. The aims of this study were (i) to test the association between job strain and self-reported insomnia symptoms, (ii) to evaluate the combination of emotional demands and job control regarding insomnia symptoms, and (iii) to analyze the influence of social support in these relationships. This cross-sectional study refers to a sample of nurses (N = 3,013 and N = 3,035 for Job Strain and Emotional demand-control model, resp.) working at public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected through a self-report questionnaire. The prevalence of insomnia symptoms was 34.3%. Job strain was associated with increased odds for insomnia symptoms (OR: 2.20); the same result was observed with the combination of emotional demands and low job control (OR: 1.99). In both models, the inclusion of low social support combined with high demands and low job control led to increased odds for insomnia symptoms, compared to groups with high social support from coworkers and supervisors. Besides job strain, the study of emotional demands and social support are promising with regards to insomnia symptoms, particularly among nurses.

Relationships between temperaments, occupational stress, and insomnia among Japanese workers

“…Some studies have demonstrated the relationships between insomnia and job demand, job control, social support, job insecurity, organizational justice, intragroup conflict, job strain, effort–reward imbalance, employment level, and shift work, among others [8–20]. No relationship was found with other types of occupational stress, except that between insomnia and role conflict in this study.…”

Association between insomnia symptoms, job strain and burnout syndrome: a cross-sectional survey of 1300 financial workers

“…In contrast, the prevalence of insomnia is higher in two recent studies—34.3% in nurses32 and a mean of 28.3% in civil servants 33. In white-collar employees, de Beer et al 34 observed 17% ‘always’ or ‘often’ reporting sleep difficulties and 37% ‘sometimes’ reporting sleep difficulties.…”

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