How common are sleep issues and burnout in Irish farmers?

BACKGROUND: Farming is often a stressful, isolating and unpredictable career with notable occupational and health hazards. Therefore, farmers may be more vulnerable to experiencing sleep issues and burnout than other workers. However, pressures and stressors may differ between countries. There is little research on sleep issues and burnout in Irish farmers. METHODS: A cross- sectional survey was distributed to Irish adult farmers (N = 351) both online and in-person at farming events. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Short Form Health Survey-12 examined their sleep and burnout, along with how sleep and burnout were associated with farmers’ mental and physical health and examined individual differences such as income, age, and gender. Prevalence assessments, descriptive analyses and non-parametric tests were used. RESULTS: Burnout (23.6%) and sleep issues (50.1%) are widespread in Irish farmers. Burnt-out farmers reported poorer sleep (p<.001, r=.42) and worse mental (p<.001, φ=.31) and physical health (p=.003, φ=.17). Farmers with poor sleep also reported worse mental (p<.001, r= .31) and physical health (p=.003, r=.16). Low-income was a risk-factor for sleep issues such as sleep disturbances (r=-.13, p=.032) and daytime dysfunction (r=-.15, p=.008) while age (p=.036, r=.11) and parenthood (p=.022, φ=.13) were risk-factors for burnout. There were no gender differences apart from females taking longer to fall asleep (p=.022, r=.12). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of sleep issues and burnout has serious health implications as both burnt-out farmers and farmers with poor sleep reported greater physical and mental health issues. Our cross-sectional analysis identified three at-risk groups that interventions can target to maximise impact: sleep issues are highest in lower-income farmers and burnout is highest in older farmers and farmers with children. KEY MESSAGES: • Sleep issues and burnout endanger the health and safety of farmers, their families and the Irish agricultural industry. • Farmers require urgent intervention targeting sleep issues and burnout.