Effects of Work Stress on Sleep Quality: A Quantitative Study

Abstract

Sleep quality is defined as the ability to achieve and maintain sleep over a given period, which directly influences overall well-being and satisfaction with the performance of daily activities. Adequate sleep contributes to the regulation of essential physiological and cognitive functions, while poor sleep quality can lead to adverse effects on physical and mental health. Stress, on the other hand, is the body's response to situations that demand a high level of effort or adaptation, and can generate negative effects when experienced for a prolonged or intense period. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between sleep quality and stress in workers at an import company located in the city of Ambato. Understanding this relationship is essential, as both variables can impact job performance, health, and overall well-being. The research was conducted using a non-experimental, correlational, and cross-sectional design, which allowed for data examination at a specific point in time without manipulating variables. A total of 140 employees from the company participated. In terms of gender distribution, 54.3% of the participants were men and 45.7% were women. The average age of the sample was 32.06 years, suggesting a working population at a stage of life where professional and personal demands can influence stress levels and sleep quality. To assess sleep quality, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used, an instrument widely validated in scientific studies that measures different aspects of nighttime rest. Stress levels were also assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a recognized questionnaire for measuring burnout syndrome and occupational stress. The results showed that 57.1% of participants presented sleep problems that required medical attention, demonstrating a high prevalence of sleep disturbances within the population assessed. In contrast, 30% of respondents did not report significant sleep difficulties. Regarding stress levels, 98.6% of employees experienced medium to high levels of stress, suggesting that almost the entire sample was exposed to stressors in the workplace. In terms of gender differences, no significant variations in stress levels were found between men and women, indicating that the perception of stress in this group of workers does not appear to be influenced by gender. Finally, statistical analysis revealed the absence of a significant relationship between sleep quality and stress levels, suggesting that these factors may manifest independently within the population studied. Based on these findings, it is concluded that, although work-related stress is highly prevalent among workers at the company studied, it does not appear to directly influence sleep quality. This indicates that other factors may affect rest, such as personal habits, work environment conditions, or individual employee characteristics. These results highlight the importance of future research that delves deeper into the specific determinants of sleep quality and stress in the workplace, in order to design intervention strategies that promote worker health and well-being.