Sleep quality: A critical determinant of perceived quality of life in the administrative-technical workers of an Italian university

OBJECTIVE: This observational study aims to analyze the quality of life of the administrative/technical employees of the University of Ferrara and its relationship with sleep quality, chronotype, and family components. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We invited all employees (528) to fill a data collection form (age, gender, education level, number of family components, being caregiver and job-related factors) and 3 anonymous questionnaires (VR-12 Health-Related Quality of Life, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire). RESULTS: Out of 323 respondents, 72.5% were female, 76.4% had an age between 41-60 years old, 63.8% had a university degree, and 67.5% an administrative profile. Considering family-related characteristics: 81.1% of respondents lived with ≥2 people 35.3% had children, and 31.9% declared to be caregiver of a family member, not necessarily co-housing. Most of the employees resulted to be Morning-type (48.6%) and Intermediate- type (46.8%), with a very limited group of Evening-types (4.6%). Quality of sleep resulted to be the main factor affecting the health-related quality of life. Near half of our sample had poor sleep quality (49.2%; 95% CI: 43.6-54.8%). PSQI score resulted in significantly higher for people who were caregivers of a familiar (7.0 ± 3.6 vs. 6.1 ± 3.6, p=0.022). Family size and being caregiver of a familiar resulted significant factors for sleep quality, and indirectly for health-related quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of sleep is the most influencing parameter of the workers' quality of life. Family size and being caregiver of a family member indirectly affect the quality of life by influencing sleep quality. Appropriate consideration and management of these aspects in the working context could improve workers' well-being.