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Daytime napping and its effects on alertness and short-term memory performance in shiftworkers
M Härmä1, P Knauth, J Ilmarinen
1Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Daytime napping improves alertness and reduces sleep disturbances for female shiftworkers. Napping before a night shift was linked to less sleep disturbance, though nap timing and duration did not affect performance.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Human Performance
Background:
- Shift work is prevalent among women and can disrupt circadian rhythms.
- Understanding the impact of napping on shiftworker well-being is crucial for optimizing work schedules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of daytime napping on alertness and short-term memory in female shiftworkers.
- To explore the relationship between napping habits and individual characteristics.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 145 female shiftworkers, categorizing them into nappers and non-nappers.
- Assessing alertness and short-term memory performance at specific times during and after shifts.
- Collecting data on individual characteristics and sleep disturbances via questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Napping was more common after morning shifts for evening types and those living alone.
- Before night shifts, nappers had shorter preceding sleep times but reported fewer sleep disturbances.
- Nappers demonstrated significantly higher alertness levels at the end of night shifts compared to non-nappers.
Conclusions:
- Daytime napping can enhance alertness in female shiftworkers, particularly at the end of night shifts.
- While napping before night shifts is associated with fewer sleep disturbances, its timing and duration do not directly correlate with performance.
- Napping strategies may be beneficial for managing alertness and well-being in shiftwork environments.