The impact of nocturnal road traffic noise, bedroom window orientation, and work-related stress on subjective sleep quality: results of a cross-sectional study among working women

This study examined how nocturnal road traffic noise, bedroom window orientation, and work-related stress affect sleep quality in working women. It found that high job strain and an imbalance between effort and reward significantly increased poor sleep prevalence. A quiet bedroom façade reduced the impact of noise across all noise levels, highlighting its protective role. While traffic noise levels at the most exposed façade did not correlate strongly with poor sleep, window orientation was more impactful. Poor sleep can negatively affect mood, cognition, and overall brain health, emphasizing the importance of mitigating these factors.

Improving sleep may involve positioning bedrooms away from traffic noise or using soundproofing. Employers can support by managing workload stress to improve work-life balance. As this is a cross-sectional study with self-reported data, the findings, while relevant, should be generalized with caution.