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. 2025 Oct 23:e70229.
doi: 10.1111/jsr.70229. Online ahead of print.

Workplace Psychosocial Safety Climate and Sleep Health: Association With Sleep Quality and Insomnia Symptoms

Jiwon Kim  1 , Seong-Sik Cho  2 , Maureen F Dollard  3 , May Young Loh  3 , Mo-Yeol Kang  4
Affiliations

Workplace Psychosocial Safety Climate and Sleep Health: Association With Sleep Quality and Insomnia Symptoms

Jiwon Kim et al. J Sleep Res. .

Abstract

Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) is a key organisational factor that reflects management's commitment to protecting employees' psychological health and safety. Although PSC is known to influence work stress and mental health, its association with sleep health remains underexplored. We analysed cross-sectional data from 4827 daytime wage workers enrolled in the 5th wave of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS). PSC was measured using a validated four-item scale and categorised into low, moderate, and high-risk. Sleep quality and insomnia symptoms were assessed using the Korean versions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), respectively. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between PSC levels and sleep health outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, and occupation. Lower PSC was significantly associated with poorer sleep quality (β = -0.05, p < 0.001) and more severe insomnia symptoms (β = -0.05, p < 0.001). Compared with the low-risk PSC group, the high-risk group showed increased odds of poor sleep quality (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.04-1.43). Subgroup analysis revealed that older adults (≥ 60 years), highly educated workers, full-time employees, and non-unionised workers were particularly vulnerable to poor sleep health in low PSC environments. PSC plays a protective role in sleep health, and its absence may exacerbate the adverse effects of work-related stressors. Enhancing PSC at the organisational level may improve sleep health, particularly for vulnerable worker populations.

Keywords: insomnia; occupational health; psychosocial safety climate; sleep quality; work stress.

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