0384 Perceived Life Chaos as a Key Contributor to Sleep Disturbance in Firefighters

Abstract Introduction Firefighters balance demanding work schedules and complex household responsibilities, yet little is known about the interpersonal and organizational factors that shape their sleep health. Perceived life chaos, characterized by unpredictable routines and difficulty planning daily activities, is a relatively new construct in sleep research and has not been examined in shift-working populations. This project aimed to disentangle the relative contributions of perceived life chaos, occupational factors, or household context to sleep disturbance among firefighters in 20 Arizona fire agencies. Methods Cross-sectional survey data were analyzed for 250 Arizona firefighters. Sleep disturbance was measured via the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance Short Form 8b. Perceived life chaos was assessed using a modified 4-item Chaos, Hubbub, and Order Scale. Occupational variables included rank, call volume, overtime hours, and years of night-shift exposure. Household variables included marital status, presence of a bed partner, household size, annual income, and secondary employment. Multivariable linear regression with backward selection was used to identify the most parsimonious set of predictors of sleep disturbance. Results Using backward selection, the final model predicting sleep disturbance retained four variables: perceived life chaos, occupational rank, marital status, and call volume. Higher perceived life chaos was significantly associated with greater disturbance (β= 0.43, SE = 0.12, p < 0.001). Fire managers reported less disturbance than non-managers (β= -2.61, SE = 0.77, p = 0.001). Compared with married firefighters, never-married firefighters reported lower disturbance (β = -2.33, SE = 1.02, p = 0.02). Higher call volume showed a trend toward increased disturbance (β= 0.64, SE = 0.35, p = 0.07) and was retained based on theoretical relevance. Other occupational and household variables, including overtime hours, years of night-shift exposure, and household composition, were excluded. Conclusion Perceived life chaos was the strongest predictor of sleep disturbance among firefighters, with additional contributions from occupational rank, call volume, and marital status. These findings highlight the value of examining interpersonal and organizational conditions that shape shift workers’ day-to-day routines when considering future approaches to support sleep health in the fire service. Support (if any) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL162799)