Sleep Problems and Depression in Iranian Nurses: The Predictive Role of Workaholism

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems and depression are issues that can be addressed as far as nurses are concerned. This study aimed to investigate the role of workaholism in predicting the sleep problems and depression among Iranian nurses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: we used the cross-sectional analytic research and correlational research design. Two hundred and forty-seven nurses in Malayer participated, based on the census method, in this study, that began in January and ended in March, 2017. Workaholism scale, sleep problem scale, and Short Form of Beck's Depression Inventory were used to collect the data that were finally analyzed by independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and hierarchical multiple regression tests. RESULTS: About 13.77% of the nurses were workaholics, and 17.83% had mild–moderate depression. The main sleep problems were difficulty in starting sleep (44.53%) and extreme daytime sleeping at work (40.48%). The effect of marital status on workaholism (t = 1.99, p < 0.05) and depression (t = −2.55, p < 0.01), the effect of educational status on sleep problems (t = 3.08, p < 0.002), and the effect of occupational ward on workaholism (t = 2.06, p < 0.04), sleep problems (t = 4.83, p < 0.001), and depression (t = 1.99, p < 0.05) were statistically significant. Workaholism was positively correlated to sleep problems (r = 0.19, p < 0.003) and depression (r = 0.13, p < 0.04), working excessively (F = 22.75, p < 0.001), working compulsively (F = 21.00, p < 0.001), educational status (F = 7.25, p < 0.03), and occupational ward (F = 9.29, p < 0.001) were also shown to be significant predictors of sleep problems, age (F = 7.11, p < 0.001) and job experience (F = 7.19, p < 0.009) turned out to be the significant predictors of depression. CONCLUSIONS: Attention to psychological strategies to reduce the nurses' workaholism level plays an important role in decreasing such psychological problems as sleep problems and depression.