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A year-long study tracking 45 workers aged 50 to 66 found that nearly 70% experienced ongoing sleep problems.

Even if you spend enough time in bed, waking up feeling unrefreshed may be less about how long you sleep and more about how often your sleep is interrupted. Research suggests that a significant number of workers over 50 experience sleep disturbances related to job stress.

A research team led by Professor Athanasios Chatzis (Data Science) and Dr. Belinda Stephan at the University of Edinburgh conducted a one-year study as part of the “Supporting Healthy Ageing at Work (SHAW)” project. The study followed 45 workers aged 50 to 66.

Participants came from a range of occupations. Researchers measured sleep using wearable sensors and regularly collected surveys about well-being and work life.

Over 5,200 days of sleep data were collected. On average, participants slept between 6.5 and 8 hours per night—close to the recommended 7–9 hours for adults. None had been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

However, the analysis revealed that about 70% of participants consistently experienced sleep issues severe enough to meet clinical thresholds. Over the course of the study, 92% met the criteria for sleep disturbance at least once. The main problem wasn’t insufficient sleep time, but frequent awakenings during the night, which disrupted deep, restorative sleep.

Researchers also gathered more than 1,900 self-reports on well-being and work life. Participants scored relatively high on feeling loved and coping with problems, but lower on energy levels and overall comfort.

Using artificial intelligence to analyze factors linked to sleep disruption, job-related stress emerged as a major contributor. In addition to age-related changes such as menopause and physical aging, factors like caregiving responsibilities, financial concerns, and workplace stress were also found to interfere with sleep. Overall well-being was closely tied to how consistently individuals maintained a balance between work and life.

Professor Chatzis noted, “It was surprising to observe such widespread sleep problems in a group without diagnosed clinical sleep or mental health disorders. Many of these issues were linked to work, and overall well-being was strongly influenced by maintaining a consistent work-life balance.”

Dr. Stephan added, “This study shows that sleep should not be viewed solely as a personal lifestyle issue, but also as a workplace health and well-being concern. Employers need to recognize how work-related sleep issues affect employees, especially those over 50, and provide appropriate support.”

The researchers emphasized that simply measuring how many hours someone sleeps is not enough to fully understand sleep health. For older workers, maintaining good health and sustainable work conditions requires attention to sleep quality, workplace well-being, and work-life balance together.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sleep

1) Why do I still feel tired even if I get enough sleep?
Even with sufficient sleep duration, frequent awakenings can reduce deep sleep. When sleep is repeatedly interrupted, the body and brain cannot fully recover, leading to fatigue, reduced concentration, and low energy during the day.

2) How many awakenings count as a sleep disorder?
The number of awakenings alone does not define a sleep disorder. What matters is whether it is difficult to fall back asleep and whether repeated awakenings lead to daytime fatigue, sleepiness, or reduced concentration. If these symptoms occur at least three times a week for more than three months, chronic insomnia may be suspected.

3) Why do people wake up more often at night after age 50?
As we age, deep sleep decreases and sleep cycles shift earlier, making us more sensitive to noise and light. Nocturia (nighttime urination), pain, menopause symptoms, and sleep apnea can also disrupt sleep. Job stress, financial worries, and caregiving responsibilities further contribute.

4) Can work stress actually wake you up at night?
Yes. Ongoing work-related concerns can keep the body in a heightened state of alertness, even during sleep. This can make it harder to fall asleep, cause early awakenings, and make it difficult to fall back asleep due to intrusive thoughts about work.

5) Should I check the time when I wake up at night?
It’s best not to. Calculating how much sleep time remains can increase anxiety and make it harder to fall back asleep. If you can’t fall asleep after about 20 minutes, it may help to get out of bed and do a quiet activity in dim light until you feel sleepy again.

6) When should I see a doctor?
If sleep problems persist for more than three months or begin to affect daily life, it’s advisable to seek medical care. Symptoms such as loud snoring, pauses in breathing during sleep, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, or frequent leg movements during sleep may indicate sleep apnea or other sleep disorders.

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