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Robbins R, Weaver MD, Quan SF, et al. The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: The Association Between Self-Assessed Caregiving-Related Awakenings and Nighttime Awakenings and Workplace Productivity Impairment Among Unpaid Caregivers to Older Adults in the US. J Occup Environ Med. 2022;64(1):79-85doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355.
Robbins, R., Weaver, M. D., Quan, S. F., Barger, L. K., Zhivotovsky, S., & Czeisler, C. A. (2022). The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: The Association Between Self-Assessed Caregiving-Related Awakenings and Nighttime Awakenings and Workplace Productivity Impairment Among Unpaid Caregivers to Older Adults in the US. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 64(1), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355
Robbins, Rebecca, et al. "The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: The Association Between Self-Assessed Caregiving-Related Awakenings and Nighttime Awakenings and Workplace Productivity Impairment Among Unpaid Caregivers to Older Adults in the US." Journal of occupational and environmental medicine vol. 64,1 (2022): 79-85. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355
Robbins R, Weaver MD, Quan SF, Barger LK, Zhivotovsky S, Czeisler CA. The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: The Association Between Self-Assessed Caregiving-Related Awakenings and Nighttime Awakenings and Workplace Productivity Impairment Among Unpaid Caregivers to Older Adults in the US. J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jan 01;64(1):79-85. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355. PMID: 34412088.
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J Occup Environ Med. 2022 Jan 01;64(1):79-85. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355.

The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: The Association Between Self-Assessed Caregiving-Related Awakenings and Nighttime Awakenings and Workplace Productivity Impairment Among Unpaid Caregivers to Older Adults in the US.

Journal of occupational and environmental medicine

Rebecca Robbins, Matthew D Weaver, Stuart F Quan, Laura K Barger, Stephany Zhivotovsky, Charles A Czeisler

Affiliations

  1. Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Robbins, Dr Weaver, Dr Quan, Dr Barger, Dr Czeisler); Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Robbins, Dr Weaver, Dr Quan, Dr Barger, Dr Czeisler); Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts (Ms Zhivotovsky).

PMID: 34412088 DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002355

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether caregiving for older adults is associated with insomnia symptoms and diminished workplace productivity.

METHODS: We analyzed data collected from caregivers to older adults in the US. Participants self-reported awakenings from sleep (caregiving-related or spontaneous) and workplace measures (presenteeism, absenteeism, and productivity impairment). We conduct generalized linear modeling to examine the relationship between awakenings and workplace outcomes, controlling for confounders.

RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-eight caregivers to older adults reported current employment and met our inclusion criteria. Adjusted analyses found that reporting caregiving-related awakenings was associated with presenteeism (OR = 1.27, 95%CI: 1.16 to 1.40), absenteeism (OR = 1.10, 95%CI: 1.06 to 1.15), and productivity impairment (OR = 1.41, 95%CI: 1.25 to 1.58). Adjusted analyses found that spontaneous nighttime awakenings were associated with absenteeism (OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01 to 1.08) and productivity impairment (OR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.124) but not presenteeism.

CONCLUSIONS: Caregiving-related awakenings are a risk factor for workplace productivity impairment. Future studies should examine means for improving caregiver sleep.

Copyright © 2021 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Conflict of interest statement

Dr Czeisler reports grants/to BWH from Dayzz Live Well Ltd., Delta Airlines, FAA, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, NHLBI, NIA, NIOSH, NASA, Puget Sound Pilots, Regeneron, Sanofi, and DOD; is/was a paid consultan

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