Journal of human ergologyOct 21, 2003

Risk factors for insomnia in Japanese female hospital nurses working fast rotating shifts

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗

Updated Apr 3, 2026

Abstract

The prevalence of insomnia among nurses in rapidly rotating shift systems is 29.2%, significantly higher than in the general population.

Insomnia rates among surveyed nurses were three to four times higher than in the general population.
23% of those with insomnia reported using medically prescribed sleep aids.
Independent risk factors for insomnia included being 24 years old or younger, working three or fewer night shifts monthly, having six or fewer non-working days, receiving less support from colleagues and superiors, and caring for severely ill patients.
The number of hours worked during night shifts was not associated with insomnia when controlling for other factors.
Three main factors negatively affecting sleep were identified: inexperience with shift work among young nurses, the need to recover sleep on days off, and stress related to nursing work.

Simplified

A cross-sectional survey was carried out for the purpose of examining the association of work stress with insomnia among nurses working rotating shift systems. A self-administered questionnaire on sleep and mental health was distributed to 875 nurses at five hospitals in Japan. Out of the data from 785 (89.7%) respondents, those from 555 women engaged in rapidly and irregularly rotating shift systems as full-time nurses were examined. The prevalence of insomnia (29.2%) was three to four times higher than that in the general population. Among the insomniacs, 23% were current users of medically prescribed hypnotics. Multiple logistic analysis revealed that being 24 or less years old, working three or less night shifts per month, having six or less non-working days per month, receiving less support from colleagues and superiors, and taking care of severely ill patients were independent risk factors for insomnia. The number of hours of a night shift was found not associated with insomnia, taking the above variables into account. These results suggest that at least three factors, i.e., 1) young nurses not adapted to shiftwork, 2) the nurses requiring to remedy sleep deficits on non-working days, and 3) the work stress partly characteristic of nurses, have an adverse influence on their sleep.

Risk factors for insomnia in Japanese female hospital nurses working fast rotating shifts

Abstract

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