Association Between Work Stress and Sleep Disorders in Law Enforcement: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Law enforcement personnel face diverse occupational stressors, including shift work, organizational pressure, operational demands, and traumatic incidents. Previous systematic reviews have primarily focused on prevalence estimates of sleep disturbances, whereas the strength of the association with occupational stress and the relative contribution of distinct stressor domains remain to be systematically quantified. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420261284369). Four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and SpringerLink) were searched from inception to January 2026. Observational studies using validated instruments to assess occupational stress and sleep outcomes were included. A random-effects model was used to pool odds ratios (ORs). Subgroup analyses distinguished three stressor domains: shift work, work and organizational stress, and dual stress exposure. Results: Seventeen studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which ten (N = 5124) provided data for meta-analysis. Occupational stress was significantly associated with sleep disorders (pooled OR = 3.51, 95% CI: 2.54– 4.84), with moderate to substantial heterogeneity (I 2 = 69%). Subgroup analyses showed that shift work (OR = 3.02), work and organizational stress (OR = 5.94), and dual stress exposure (OR = 3.66) were each associated with elevated sleep risk, with no significant subgroup difference (P = 0.19). The dual stress exposure subgroup exhibited high heterogeneity (I 2 = 87%), possibly attributable to differences in measurement tools, study populations, and confounder adjustment. Conclusion: This study provides a quantitative estimate of the association between occupational stress and sleep disorders in law enforcement personnel. Differentiating occupational stress into distinct stressor domains may help clarify its relationship with sleep, with different stressors potentially operating through distinct pathways (eg, circadian disruption, cognitive rumination, hyperarousal). Methodologically, the study highlights issues in measurement standardization and confounder adjustment. From an intervention perspective, organizational-level strategies—such as enhancing decision-making autonomy and supportive leadership—may warrant further exploration alongside individual-level approaches. Safeguarding sleep health in this population is important for both individual well-being and public safety. Keywords: police officers, work stress, sleep disorders, occupational health, meta-analysis, shift work