Impact of Workplace Exercise Movements on the Seven Subscales of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among Rotational Shift Workers

Background: Due to the increasing demand for production, shift work has become necessary. However, shift workers often experience decreased sleep quality due to misalignment between their working hours and physiological rhythms. This study aims to investigate the impact of workplace exercise on the sleep quality of rotational shift workers. Methods: This interventional study involved 164 production line shift workers, who were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 82) and a control group (n = 82). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI). The experimental group engaged in corrective exercises conducted within the workplace for two 10-minute sessions per day, six days a week for eight weeks. Following the intervention, PSQI questionnaires were re-administered to both groups. Results: The results indicated that after the workplace exercise intervention, the sleep quality of rotational shift workers in the experimental group improved by 7.3%, while it decreased by 28.1% in the control group. Additionally, the exercise intervention significantly reduced sleep latency (Z = -3.47, P 0.001) and sleep disturbance (Z = -2.9, P 0.001), while enhancing sleep efficiency (Z = -2.34, P ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: Implementing workplace exercise interventions with supervisors and in groups can enhance sleep quality among rotational shift workers leading to reduced sleep latency and disturbances.