Associations of reported bruxism with insomnia and insufficient sleep symptoms among media personnel with or without irregular shift work

Kristiina Ahlberg,Christer Hublin,Seppo Sarna,Aslak Savolainen,Juha Sinisalo,Markku Partinen,Harri Lindholm,Antti Jahkola,Mauno Könönen,Jari Ahlberg

doi:10.1186/1746-160x-4-4

Abstract

BackgroundThe aims were to investigate the prevalence of perceived sleep quality and insufficient sleep complaints, and to analyze whether self-reported bruxism was associated with perceptions of sleep, and awake consequences of disturbed sleep, while controlling confounding factors relative to poor sleep.MethodsA standardized questionnaire was mailed to all employees of the Finnish Broadcasting Company with irregular shift work (n = 750) and to an equal number of randomly selected controls in the same company with regular eight-hour daytime work.ResultsThe response rate in the irregular shift work group was 82.3% (56.6% men) and in the regular daytime work group 34.3% (46.7% men). Self-reported bruxism occurred frequently (often or continually) in 10.6% of all subjects. Altogether 16.8% reported difficulties initiating sleep (DIS), 43.6% disrupted sleep (DS), and 10.3% early morning awakenings (EMA). The corresponding figures for non-restorative sleep (NRS), tiredness, and sleep deprivation (SLD) were 36.2%, 26.1%, and 23.7%, respectively. According to logistic regression, female gender was a significant independent factor for all insomnia symptoms, and older age for DS and EMA. Frequent bruxism was significantly associated with DIS (p = 0.019) and DS (p = 0.021). Dissatisfaction with current work shift schedule and frequent bruxism were both significant independent factors for all variables describing insufficient sleep consequences.ConclusionSelf-reported bruxism may indicate sleep problems and their adherent awake consequences in non-patient populations.

Highlights

The aims were to investigate the prevalence of perceived sleep quality and insufficient sleep complaints, and to analyze whether self-reported bruxism was associated with perceptions of sleep, and awake consequences of disturbed sleep, while controlling confounding factors relative to poor sleep
Logistic regression models were fitted to analyse the independent effects of the background variables on the probability of insomnia symptoms (DIS, disrupted sleep (DS), early morning awakenings (EMA)) and insufficient sleep consequences (NRS, tiredness, sleep deprivation (SLD))
Frequent bruxism was significantly associated with difficulties initiating sleep (DIS) (p = 0.019) and DS (p = 0.021), whilst dissatisfaction with own work shifts was significantly associated with DIS (p = 0.006) and EMA (p = 0.001)

Summary

Introduction

The aims were to investigate the prevalence of perceived sleep quality and insufficient sleep complaints, and to analyze whether self-reported bruxism was associated with perceptions of sleep, and awake consequences of disturbed sleep, while controlling confounding factors relative to poor sleep. According to recent epidemiological data, Finland has a unique pattern of insomnia compared with many other European countries [1]. The high prevalence of insomnia complaints in the Nordic countries has been explained by the dark period during midwinter, which is thought to influence human circadian rhythms. Shift work has been shown to affect the circadian rhythm and to be connected with work related problems [2,3]. Irregular shift work has been implicated as a cause of sleep disorders and tiredness, and may even expose employees to work hazards [4,5]. The 24-hour culture in modern media work, with its irregular shifts and night work, may enhance the psychological pressures of work in an already demanding work environment

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