Poor sleep can cost over-50s nine months of career, study finds
Findings highlight importance of sleep health during middle age, particularly for those with lower socioeconomic status
TL;DR
- Severely disrupted sleep can lead to a loss of nine months from working life after age 50.
- Moderate sleep disturbances are associated with nearly five fewer months of work, and severe disturbances with eight fewer months.
- Women with no sleep disturbances had a longer working life from 50 to 68 than men.
- Short and mid-range sleep durations were associated with 13 years and two months of working life expectancy after 50.
- Long nightly sleep length was associated with a working life expectancy of 12 years and five months.
- The longest working life expectancy (almost 14 years) was observed among professional women with no sleep disturbances.
- The shortest working life expectancy (nearly 12.5 years) was observed among men in routine jobs with severe sleep disturbances.
- The study emphasizes the importance of supporting sleep health and treating sleep problems in middle age, especially for those with lower socioeconomic status.
- Interventions like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and workplace educational programs are suggested to support sleep.