A recent study evaluated the effect of mental and physical working conditions, stressful life situations, and work-life balance on sleep problems in elderly employees.

The survey comprised 2,771 municipal workers in Finland who were nearing retirement. In a different demographic research, nearly 70% of Finnish women and more than 50% of Finnish men aged 60 to 69 reported experiencing sleep problems in the previous month.

The researchers in the current study identified four distinct factors connected to mental stress. These included physical workload and shift work, psychosocial workload, environmental and social non-work adversity, and non-work-related life event and health adversity.

Different stress components were linked to sleep problems in different ways. Work-related stress was linked to current sleep issues, whereas loneliness and anxiety related to one′s living situation predicted worsening sleep issues during the follow-up. The psychosocial aspects of the workplace were also linked to poor sleep.

Thus the study offers details on the factors which should be considered for the developmental measures and interventions which could help older employees to work more efficiently.  (Hindustan Times, Aug 11, 2022)