Impact of family cohabitation status and work-from-home on sleep problems among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Rintaro Fujii; Makoto Okawara; Ryutaro Matsugaki; Kiminori Odagami; Ayako Hino; Seiichiro Tateishi; Mayumi Tsuji; Reiji Yoshimura; Shinya Matsuda; Yoshihisa Fujino; CORoNaWork Project

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003275

Impact of family cohabitation status and work-from-home on sleep problems among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Nov 20. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003275. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
² Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
³ Department of Work Systems and Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁴ Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁵ Department of Mental Health, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁶ Disaster Occupational Health Center, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁷ Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁸ Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan.

PMID: 39805130
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003275

Abstract

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined the impact of family cohabitation status and work-from-home (WFH) on sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: An online survey of 27,036 Japanese workers assessed WFH frequency, family cohabitation, and trouble sleeping to estimate odds ratios (OR) for sleep problems from December 22 to 26, 2020.

Results: In multivariate analysis, WFH had no significant benefit for trouble sleeping ≥3 months. Interactions were observed between WFH and cohabitation with elementary school children (OR = 1.26, p = 0.049 for trouble sleeping ≥3 months) and with family members in need of care (OR = 1.39, p = 0.013 for trouble sleeping ≥3 days/week; OR = 1.37, p = 0.02 for trouble sleeping ≥3 months).

Conclusion: The study suggests that the sleep disadvantage during the pandemic may have resulted from WFH with specific cohabitation.