The aim of our work is to study self-reported sleep disorders/disturbances associated with physical
symptoms and usage of computers, and to analyse physical symptoms of different groups, usage of
desktop computers, usage of portable computers or mini-computers, and background information. The
study was carried out as a cross-sectional study by posting a questionnaire to 15 000 working-age
persons. The responses (6121) included 1016 (16.6%) respondents, who reported that they suffered
quite often or more often sleeping disorders/disturbances during the last 12 months. Of those respondents
708 (69.7%) were employed. In statistical analyses comparisons have been done between: 1)
workers with quite often or more often sleep disorders/disturbances and without and 2) employed and
unemployed persons with quite often or more often sleep disorders/disturbances. When comparing
employed persons with and without sleep disorders/disturbances we found significant differences in
self-reported physical symptoms and mental symptoms. In addition, there were differences in the usage
of desktop computers at leisure. In the future it is important to take into account that persons with sleep
disorders also have other differences e.g., in symptoms as persons without sleep disorders. Situations can
also be quite different if a person is in employed or unemployed.
Relevance to industry: Sleep disorders/disturbances are quite common symptoms that have their effect on
the productivity and well-being of industrial workers. A large-scale questionnaire offers a good reference
for evaluating the prevalence of the self-reported sleep disorders/disturbances associated with physical
symptoms and usage of computers.