Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Sleep Outcomes Among Long-Haul Truck Drivers: A Secondary Data Analysis
Cara Harris, Aoyjai Montgomery, Karen HeatonObjective:
To describe smoking prevalence among long-haul truck drivers (LHTDs) and assess differences in sleep quality, quantity, and propensity between smokers and non-smokers.
Methods:
Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and sleep propensity using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Data were analyzed in RStudio using descriptive statistics, Shapiro-Wilk, Levene’s Test, Mann-Whitney U Tests, and Cohen’s D.
Results:
Among 96 LHTDs surveyed, 63 were non-smokers, and 33 were smokers. Smokers reported significantly higher daytime sleepiness scores (p =.038, d = 0.2), while differences in sleep quality and sleep propensity duration were not statistically significant
Conclusions:
Individuals who smoke experienced poorer sleep quality and greater daytime sleepiness. These findings underscore the need for larger studies and targeted interventions to address smoking-related sleep issues in LHTDs.