The Effect of Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep Quality on Shift-Work Nurses in Japan

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between stress, fatigue and sleep quality among shift work nurses in Japan. Design: A descriptive correlation design using self-administered surveys. Methods: Questionnaires on stress, fatigue and sleep quality (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI-J) among shift work nurses were distributed to 653 nurses in Japan from January 2015 to February 2015. Results: Participants who reported higher levels of fatigue reported higher levels of stress (r = 0.774, p = 0.000), lower levels of sleep sa-tisfaction (r = −0.411, p = 0.000) and overall lower levels of health (r = −0.323, p = 0.000).PSQI scores were also significantly correlated with reported levels of stress (r = 0.294, p = 0.000), fatigue (r = 0.291, p = 0.000) and levels of health (r = −0.370, p = 0.000). Nurses who have stress-relieving recourses were younger (t = −2.842, p = 0.005), reported higher levels of overall health (t = 2.727, p = 0.007), had higher levels of sleep quality measured by the PSQI (t = −2.560, p = 0.011), and required less time to fall asleep (t = −3.207, p = 0.001). Conclusions: This study showed an association between stress and sleep satisfaction among shift work nurses in Japan. In addition, nurses that engage in activities to manage stress might achieve higher levels of health and high sleep quality.