A1 Journal article (refereed)
Working hours and sleep duration in midlife as determinants of health-related quality of life among older businessmen (2017)

von Bonsdorff, M., Strandberg, A., von Bonsdorff, M., Törmäkangas, T., Pitkälä, K. H., & Strandberg, T. E. (2017). Working hours and sleep duration in midlife as determinants of health-related quality of life among older businessmen. Age and Ageing, 46(1), 108-112. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw178

JYU authors or editors

Törmäkangas, Timo
Bonsdorff von, Mikaela
von Bonsdorff, Monika

Publication details

All authors or editors: von Bonsdorff, Mikaela; Strandberg, Arto; von Bonsdorff, Monika; Törmäkangas, Timo; Pitkälä, Kaisu H.; Strandberg, Timo E.

Journal or series: Age and Ageing

ISSN: 0002-0729

eISSN: 1468-2834

Publication year: 2017

Volume: 46

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 108-112

Publisher: Oxford University Press; British Geriatrics Society

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw178

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access:

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/53036

Abstract

Background
long working hours and short sleep duration are associated with a range of adverse health consequences. However, the combined effect of these two exposures on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been investigated.

Methods
we studied white men born between 1919 and 1934 in the Helsinki Businessmen Study (HBS, initial n = 3,490). Data on clinical variables, self-rated health (SRH), working hours and sleep duration in 1974, and RAND-36 (SF-36) HRQoL survey in the year 2000 were available for 1,527 men. Follow-up time was 26 years. By combining working hours and sleep duration, four categories were formed: (i) normal work (≤50 hours/week) and normal sleep (>47 hours/week); (ii) long work (>50 hours/week) and normal sleep; (iii) normal work and short sleep (≤47 hours/week); and (iv) long work and short sleep. The association with RAND-36 domains was examined using multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, smoking and SRH.

Results
compared to those with normal work and sleep in midlife, men with long work and short sleep had poorer RAND-36 scores for physical functioning, vitality and general health, and those with long work and normal sleep had poorer scores for physical functioning in old age. Adjustment for midlife smoking and SRH attenuated the associations, but the one for long work and short sleep and physical functioning remained significant (difference in mean physical functioning score −4.58, 95% confidence interval −9.00 to −0.15).

Conclusion
businessmen who had long working hours coupled with short sleep duration in midlife had poorer physical health in old age.

Keywords: working hours; disability; ageing

Free keywords: sleep duration; health-related quality of life; older people

Fields of science: