The Influence of Changes in Work Stressors and Coping Resources on Sleep Disturbances: Evidence from the OHSPIW Cohort Study

Study objectives We investigated whether changes in psychosocial work conditions affect the risk of sleep disturbances. Methods Data pertaining to 2738 males and 1431 females were obtained from the Occupational Health Study of Petroleum Industry Workers (OHSPIW), a prospective cohort study of Chinese petroleum industry workers. The subjects were assessed with regard to work-related stressors, coping resources and sleep disturbances at baseline (2012) and follow-up (2018). The variations in work stressors and coping resources, which were assessed using the Occupation Stress Inventory-Reviewed (OSI-R), were calculated. Sleep disturbances were evaluated with the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Increased work stressors (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.24-1.99) and decreased coping resources (OR=2.03, 95% CI=1.48-2.78) were correlated with the likelihood of sleep disturbances in male and female workers. The primary risk factors included high role overload, increased responsibility, enhanced physical environment stressors, reduced self-care, and reduced rational coping. A reduction in work stressors was a protective factor against sleep disturbances in females only (OR=0.63, 95% CI=0.45-0.88). Coping resources had a modifying effect on the relationship between increased work stressors and sleep disturbances, with increased coping resources being associated with a lower odds of increased works stressors on sleep disturbances (OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.01-1.66) than decreased coping resources (OR=3.60, 95%CI=1.10-11.81). Conclusions Changes in work stressors and coping resources have a significant influence on the risk of sleep disturbances. Our findings highlight important precautionary strategies to abate adverse psychosocial working environments and to strengthen coping resources to prevent work-related sleep disturbances.