Association between Physical Work Environment during Work from Home and Sleep during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study in Japan

Objective The work environment during work from home (WFH) may have a negative impact on workers' health. We investigated the effects of the physical work environment during WFH on sleep. Methods We conducted a 1-year cohort study of 2099 Japanese WFH workers. We used eight questions about the physical work environment during WFH as independent variables and the Athens Insomnia Scale as the dependent variable. We performed multilevel logistic regression with residence as a random effect. Results With the exception of one item, nonconformity with recommendations for the physical work environment during WFH was significantly associated with sleep problems. Further, the number of nonconformities and sleep problems showed a graded relationship. Conclusion An inappropriate physical work environment during WFH may be associated with sleep problems.