Working from home is associated with changes in sleep hygiene practice.

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Understanding sleep hygiene and quality among remote workers is crucial, especially post-COVID-19 pandemic.
• The widespread shift to working from home during the pandemic provides a unique model for studying sleep patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sleep hygiene habits and self-reported sleep quality in individuals working from home at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify changes in sleep hygiene and quality associated with the transition to remote work.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted with 204 participants.
• The Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to measure sleep hygiene and quality.
• Data collected included sociodemographic variables and personal habits like exercise and caffeine intake.

Main Results:

• 51% of participants reported significant sleep disturbance (PSQI > 5).
• A significant positive correlation was found between PSQI and SHI scores (p < 0.001).
• While the overall SHI score remained unchanged, specific components showed both deterioration and improvement in sleep hygiene practices.

Conclusions:

• Working from home did not alter the total sleep hygiene score but led to mixed changes in specific sleep hygiene behaviors.
• The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve sleep hygiene among remote workers.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact of remote work on sleep health.