The relationship between shift-work, sleep, and mental health among paramedics in Australia
Abstract
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep and mental health issues, the role of chronotype, and the relationship between these variables in Australian paramedics. Design A cross-sectional study. Settings Cross-sectional survey. Measurements Paramedics were invited to complete an online survey to assess stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep quality, shift-work disorder, bruxism, obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, chronotype, fatigue, and well-being. Participants A total of 136 paramedics responded to the survey (age, 39.1 ± 12.1 years; 45.8% men and 54.2% women; 85.4% rotating shift-workers, 7% rural shift-workers, and 7.6% fixed rosters). Results Paramedics reported significantly higher levels of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, fatigue, PTSD symptoms, insomnia symptoms, narcolepsy, and significantly poorer sleep quality and general well-being than norms from the general population of Australia and Western countries (all p Conclusion Addressing sleep issues and matching chronotype to shift preference in paramedics may help to reduce depression, anxiety, and improve well-being.
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Australian paramedics report significantly high levels of depression, anxiety, fatigue, PTSD, insomnia, narcolepsy, and poor sleep quality.
“Paramedics report significantly high levels of depres- sion, anxiety, fatigue, PTSD, insomnia, narcolepsy, and poor sleep quality.”
From Understanding the Occupational Factors that Influence Paramedic Health and Wellbeing (2024) · cites this paper as Khan, W., Conduit, R., Kenne- dy, G. & Jackson, M. 2020
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Understanding the Occupational Factors that Influence Paramedic Health and Wellbeing
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- Authors
- Khan, W. A. A., Conduit, R., Kennedy, G. A., & Jackson, M. L.
- Affiliations
- Umm al-Qura University (SA)
- RMIT University (AU)
- Austin Hospital (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Conduit, Russell
- Venue
- Sleep Health
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-06
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 330-337
- ISSN
- 2352-7218 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3013140958
- Cited by
- 136
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 7
- FWCI
- 16.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- erratum (2020-12-01)
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sleep Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- paramedics, shift work, chronotype, sleep quality, insomnia, mental health, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, fatigue, well-being, rotating shifts, occupational stress, sleep disorders
- MeSH terms
- Shift Work Schedule, Adult, Allied Health Personnel, Australia, Mental Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sleep Wake Disorders
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