Relationship Between Occupational Characteristics and Telomere Length in Female Nurses Aged 20-39 Years: A...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Cellular Aging
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Korean nurses experience significant occupational stress.
• Limited data exists on early-career nurses' telomere length.
• Telomere length is a biomarker for cellular aging and occupational stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between occupational characteristics and telomere length in young female Korean nurses.
• To explore factors influencing telomere length in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) used for salivary telomere length measurement.
• Surveys assessed demographics, occupational factors, burnout, and sleep quality.
• Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and multivariable linear regression.

Main Results:

• Age was the primary predictor of telomere length (p < 0.001).
• Younger nurses (under 30) had longer telomeres.
• High burnout and poor sleep quality were prevalent but not significantly associated with telomere length after controlling for age.

Conclusions:

• Age is the main factor influencing telomere length in young nurses; occupational stress effects may manifest over longer exposure.
• High burnout and sleep disturbances necessitate organizational interventions.
• Saliva qPCR is a precise, non-invasive method for biological monitoring in occupational health.