Stress worsens sleep and poor sleep, in turn, aggravates stress. This is the conclusion of Michelle van Laethem in her research on the relationship between work stress and sleep.
A vicious circle, it seems. Van Laethem recently obtained her PhD for her research at Radboud University in Nijmegen.
Clear link between stress and sleep
Van Laethem's research shows a clear link between stress and sleep. Because on the one hand, work stress has an unfavorable effect on one's sleep quality. And on the other hand, poor sleep is a predictor of increased work stress. With a significant supporting role for rumination as an intermediate step: stress makes you ruminate, and that leads to poorer sleep.
Sleep problems are a risk factor
This relationship between stress, rumination, and sleep seems obvious. But although this link is apparent from the literature, little concrete, extensive research had been done on it. Van Laethem did this for the first time. "Now we can really say something well-founded about it. And give tips to employers and employees on how to tackle this problem. Because sleep problems are a risk factor when it comes to someone's functioning and health."
Combination of short- and long-term study
Van Laethem didn't rush things. Her research consisted of a combination of long-term and short-term studies. For the first, over 3,000 participants from the Netherlands and Sweden were asked questions multiple times at intervals of one to two years. For the short-term diary study, she surveyed Dutch PhD students several times a month.
How do we break the vicious circle? By preventive measures that should limit work stress, says Van Laethem. Primarily a task for the employer. They can ensure a good balance between work and rest, for variety in work, and for challenging but not too high task demands. In practice, this is not so simple. That is why the research also gives tips for employees. Ensure recovery during free time. By exercising, but certainly also by getting enough (7-8 hours) and regular sleep.
High workload in almost every sector
And that's where the hard reality comes into play. In almost every sector, employees struggle with (too) high workloads. People are so busy that many suffer physical and psychological complaints. Universities are certainly no exception. According to Van Laethem, they too must be sharp about this and do something about it. But her motto for employees remains: "Take good care of yourself, be aware of your workload, and speak up in time. And most importantly: ensure sufficient sleep."
Source: https://arbo-online.nl
