IMPACT OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS ON SLEEP QUALITY

Abstract

Occupational stress has been widely recognized as a relevant risk factor for the physical and mental health of workers, directly affecting sleep quality. This integrative review aimed to analyze the evidence available in the scientific literature on the relationship between occupational stress and sleep quality in different work contexts. The search was conducted in the SciELO, LILACS, PubMed and Scopus databases, using the descriptors "occupational stress", "work" and "sleep quality", between 2016 and 2024. Twelve studies that met the eligibility criteria were included. The results demonstrated a consistent association between high levels of occupational stress and significant impairments in sleep quality, evidenced by increased sleep latency, fragmentation, reduced duration and daytime fatigue. Health, education and public safety professionals were among the most affected. Factors such as female gender, shift work and lack of organizational support increased vulnerability to sleep disorders. It is concluded that stress in the workplace significantly compromises the quality of workers' sleep, requiring the implementation of organizational and individual strategies to mitigate these effects and promote occupational health.