Night Work and Fatigue, Sleepiness, Insomnia, Depression, and Anxiety Among Saudi Nurses

Background/Objectives: Night work has been linked to a range of psychological complaints. This study examined whether night-shift exposure was associated with anxiety, depression, insomnia, sleepiness, and fatigue among Saudi nurses. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used using validated self-report instruments. Of 300 nurses invited, 120 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate: 40%). The survey collected demographic data (gender, age, years of nursing experience, marital status, and having children) and assessed anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), insomnia (Bergen Insomnia Scale), sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), and fatigue (Fatigue Assessment Scale). Participants were classified according to their current work schedule into three groups: day-shift-only nurses, rotating-shift nurses, and night-shift-only nurses. Group differences were examined using logistic regression. Separately, the number of night shifts worked during the preceding 12 months was examined as a continuous exposure measure in multiple linear regression analyses of the continuous outcome scores. Results: Nurses working only night shifts had higher adjusted odds of depression than those working only day shifts (OR = 2.98, 95% CI = 1.18–7.54). In multiple linear regression analyses examining recent shift intensity, a greater number of night shifts worked during the preceding 12 months was significantly associated with higher anxiety (β = 0.496, p = 0.001), sleepiness (β = 0.316, p = 0.043), and fatigue (β = 0.570, p < 0.001) scores among male nurses. These continuous associations were observed in exploratory subgroup models among male nurses but were not consistently present among female nurses or across all outcomes and subgroups. Conclusions: Saudi nurses who worked night shifts reported higher levels of depression, anxiety, sleepiness, and fatigue. A greater number of night shifts worked was associated with these outcomes, emphasizing the importance of strategies to mitigate the negative impact of night work on nurses’ well-being.