Shift-work nurses exhibit heterogeneous profiles of sleep-related worry that can be classified into three distinct latent classes, with sleep quality, self-regulatory fatigue, sleep-related training, average monthly income, and overtime work identified as significant influencing factors.
The overall sleep-related worry score among shift-work nurses was at a moderate to high level.
Latent class analysis identified three distinct subgroups of sleep-related worry among shift-work nurses.
Sleep quality was a significant influencing factor of latent class membership for sleep-related worry among shift-work nurses.
Self-regulatory fatigue was a significant influencing factor of latent class membership for sleep-related worry.
Sleep-related training, average monthly income, and overtime work were significant influencing factors of sleep-related worry latent class membership.
Sleep-related worry among shift-work nurses manifests in heterogeneous profiles, suggesting the need for tailored interventions.
This research suggests that sleep-related worry is a widespread and significant issue among nurses who work rotating or night shifts. Studying 653 shift-work nurses in China, the researchers found that the average level of sleep-related worry was moderate to high. Importantly, not all nurses experienced sleep-related worry in the same way — using a statistical technique called latent class analysis, the researchers identified three distinct groups: a relatively 'emotionally healthy' group (about 17% of nurses), a 'consequence worry' group focused on the effects of poor sleep (about 25%), and a 'generalized dysregulation' group with broad and pervasive sleep concerns (about 58%). The majority of shift-work nurses fell into the most troubled category. The research also identified key factors associated with which worry group a nurse belonged to. Poorer sleep quality and higher self-regulatory fatigue (difficulty managing one's own behavior and emotions) were linked to more severe worry profiles. Occupational and economic factors also mattered: whether nurses had received sleep-related training, how much they earned per month, and whether they worked overtime all played a role in determining their worry classification. This research suggests that hospital managers and nursing leaders cannot use a single, uniform strategy to address sleep-related worry across all shift-work nurses. Instead, understanding which 'type' of sleep worrier a nurse is could allow for more personalized support — for example, targeting fatigue management or providing sleep education for those who might benefit most. Given that most nurses fell into the most dysregulated category, these findings highlight the scale of the problem and the importance of workplace interventions aimed at improving nurses' sleep health and overall well-being.
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Upload Your LabsZhang S, Cheng Z, Qiao J. (2026). Latent class analysis of sleep-related worry and its influencing factors among shift work nurses: a cross-sectional study.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1908778