University of Turku study links sleep patterns to career longevity

A study conducted by the University of Turku in Finland suggests that sleep patterns in middle age significantly impact working life expectancy for individuals aged 50 to 68. Researchers analyzed data from over 76,000 participants through the Finnish Public Sector and Health and Social Support studies.

The findings indicate that severe sleep disturbances—such as difficulty falling or staying asleep and non-restorative sleep—can reduce expected working life by approximately eight months. Additionally, sleeping for nine hours or more per night was associated with a reduction in workforce participation of about nine months compared to those sleeping between seven and 8.5 hours.

The study noted that professional women with no sleep disturbances exhibited the longest working life expectancy, reaching nearly 14 years. Conversely, men in routine jobs with severe sleep disturbances recorded the shortest expectancy at nearly 12.5 years. These results highlight the potential economic and personal implications of sleep health as statutory retirement ages rise globally.