title: Sleep problems and their correlates in a working population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the prevalence of sleep problems in a working population and examine their association with health problems, health-related quality-of-life measures, work-related problems, and medical expenditures. Also, to explore the usefulness of a sleep-problems screen for mental health conditions and underlying sleep disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey administered via voice mail and telephone interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  A San Francisco Bay Area telecommunications firm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteer sample of 588 employees who worked for a minimum of six months at the company and were enrolled in its fee-for-service health plan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty percent of respondents reported currently experiencing sleep problems and were found to have worse functioning and well-being (general health, cognitive functioning, energy), more work-related problems (decreased job performance and lower satisfaction, increased absenteeism), and a greater likelihood of comorbid physical and mental health conditions than were the respondents who did not have sleep problems. They also demonstrated a trend toward higher medical expenditures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-perceived sleep problems were common among the respondents and were associated with poorer health and health-related quality of life. A single question about sleep problems may serve as an effective screen for identifying primary care patients with mental health problems, as well as underlying sleep disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94120, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuppermann
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Lubeck
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Mazonson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Buesching
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Fifer
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*