Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Psychology > Faculty Publications > 107
Daytime Sleepiness among Midwestern Firefighters
Yihe Shi, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
Bridget Bender, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota
Patricia McGovern
Eun M. Jung
Douglas DeMoulin
Samuel Jacobs
daytime sleepiness, firefighters, sleep quality
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is the most common symptom of sleep-disorders. Although high levels of EDS have been reported among firefighters, there is a limited understanding on EDS in firefighters. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in full-time firefighters (n = 275). The survey included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to assess EDS, as well as other questions related to job characteristics, health history, and demographics. Firefighters reported inadequate sleep hours, extremely short sleep latencies, and high EDS higher than the general population. A majority of firefighters indicated a willingness to consult with a sleep professional. Risk factors associated with EDS included at least five years of professional experiences and depression diagnosis. Our findings suggest that EDS is widespread among firefighters. With increasing time on the job, frequencies of both obesity and EDS increase, which can have severe and compounding effects on health and safety.
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health
Shi, Y., Bender, B., McGovern, P., Jung, E.M., DeMoulin, D., Jacobs, S., Prichard, J.R., & Kim, H. (2021). Daytime sleepiness among Midwestern firefighters. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 76(7), 433-440. https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2020.1841718