Association between sleep quality and occupational factors in Brazilian correctional officers.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the occupational factors associated with poor sleep quality in correctional officers (COs). METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study involving COs who work at four prison facilities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Logistic and linear regression models were used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and beta coefficient (ß) of poor sleep quality and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. The analyses were adjusted for the main confounders. RESULTS: Considering the 256 male COs who participated in the study, 148 (57.8%) had poor sleep quality. In the adjusted analyses, poor sleep quality was associated with higher mental demands (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.40-6.85), having suffered psychological violence at work (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.04-4.35), agreeing with the following statement: "I think about work-related issues in my free time" (OR = 5.13; 95% CI: 1.26-20.78), feeling partially dissatisfied (OR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.09-4.68) or dissatisfied with work (OR = 4.52; CI: 1.32-15.46) and willingness to find another job (OR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.53-6.71). The occupational factors dissatisfaction with work (ß = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.05-1.98) and having health problems related to the work environment (ß = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.24-2.41) were also associated with higher scores on the PSQI. CONCLUSION: Poor quality of sleep is a highly frequent health problem among correctional officers, and this condition is associated with the perception of poor working conditions, professional dissatisfaction and the fact that such professionals think about work during their free time.

Bidirectional associations between chronic low back pain and sleep quality: A cohort study with schoolteachers.

AIMS: Although both chronic low back pain (cLBP) and sleep problems are prevalent among active workers, the relation between these variables is not well established. This study aimed to examine the bidirectional association between cLBP and sleep in schoolteachers. METHODS: The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and cLBP were self-reported by 530 schoolteachers in Londrina, Brazil, at baseline and after 2 years of follow-up. Generalized estimating equations were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and mental health variables. RESULTS: Poor sleep quality at baseline was associated with cLBP at follow-up after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (OR=1.61; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.06, 2.47). Changes in the PSQI score over time were also associated with a higher likelihood of cLBP at follow-up (OR=1.13; 95% CI=1.07, 1.20 for each 1-point increase in the PSQI score), regardless of mental health condition. cLBP at baseline was associated with worse sleep quality at follow-up after adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables (OR=1.56; 95% CI=1.02, 2.37). The presence of cLBP also changed the PSQI score over time (ß coefficient=1.153; 95% CI=0.493, 1.814). CONCLUSIONS: Worse sleep quality was prospectively and bidirectionally associated with cLBP. Concretely, changes in PSQI values after 2 years of follow-up increased the likelihood of reporting cLBP, and baseline cLBP was associated with sleep quality worsening (i.e., higher score in the PSQI). Mental health conditions such as self-rated health, depression and anxiety play a relevant confounding role in the bidirectional associations between sleep and chronic low back pain.