Study from Sweden links sleep problems to informal caregiving

For people who are in the workforce already, the added burden of unpaid caregiving for a family member or loved one may lead to insomnia and other sleep issues, according to a study from Sweden. Researchers found that the likelihood of sleep problems rose with the number of hours spent in unpaid caregiving and when caregiving stopped, sleep disturbances were reduced. Researchers found that sleep problems were more common among caregivers overall and most common among those who provided more than five hours a week. Caregivers were more likely to be female and older, have less education, work less than 20 paid hours per week and to report physical pain, chronic illness, poor health and depression.