The effects of occupational and non-occupational factors on sleep disorders in key occupational groups in China

Objective Logistic regression and the χ² automatic interaction detection method (CHAID) decision tree model were used to examine the impact of occupational and non-occupational factors on sleep disorders, as well as their interactions among key occupational groups.Methods This study conducted a cross-sectional survey involving 12,014 from key occupational groups in the Yunnan region, selected from the 2022 National Key Occupational Groups Occupational Health Literacy Monitoring Programme. Participants' personal information, occupation-related factors, and health status were collected via an electronic self-report questionnaire. The CHAID decision tree model, combined with binary logistic regression, was used to analyze the influencing factors of sleep disorders.Results The detection rate of sleep disorders among key occupational groups in Yunnan Province in 2022 was 34.7%, including 31.9% for difficulty falling asleep, 6.9% for difficulty maintaining sleep, and 6.0% for early morning awakening. After controlling for potential confounders, the results showed that females (OR=1.160, 95%CI=1.066-1.263), high job stress (OR=1.994, 95%CI=1.828-2.175), night shifts (OR=1.264, 95%CI=1.166-1.370), and working more than 44 hours per week (OR= 1.376, 95% CI=1.269-1.492) were risk factors for sleep disorders. Conversely, being married was associated with lower risk (OR=0.844, 95% CI=0.766-0.931). In addition, educational attainment and type of employer had a significant effect on sleep disorders. The CHAID decision tree model identified four key factors influencing sleep disorders: job stress, educational attainment, working hours and type of shift. Among these, job stress was the most significant factor, followed by education level. Interactions were observed between job stress and educational attainment, as well as between educational attainment and both working hours and shift type. The prevalence of sleep disorders increased from 48.6% to 55.9 % among individuals with high job stress and an education level above high school. This prevalence rose further to 59.5% for those who worked more than 44 hours per week.Conclusion High job stress, high education level, long working hours and night shifts are significant risk factors of sleep disorders among key occupational groups in Yunnan Province.