Effects of sleep deprivation at work: Sleep and self-regulation in organizations

Working in our sleep: Sleep and self-regulation in organizations

From Organizational Psychology Review

Sleep is a fundamental requirement for human functioning. A large-scale study indicates that 29.9% of Americans get less than 6 hours per day; for those in management and enterprises, 40.5% get less than 6 hours. Negative effects of sleep deprivation are especially problematic in contemporary organizations. The purpose of this paper is to further extend the sleep literature into the organizational psychology literature, with a focus on self-regulation. The author suggests there are links with sleep to work withdrawal, goal level, incivility, and defection in workplace social dilemmas. Sleep quantity and quality are defined, highlighting these distinct properties of sleep, and the sleep literature is summarised into a model of sleep and self-regulation. The paper is closed with a discussion of methodological approaches and potential areas of future research examining sleep and workplace behavior.

Abstract

A large body of sleep physiology research highlights a broad array of effects of sleep on human functioning. Until recently, this literature has been completely isolated from the organizational psychology literature. The purpose of this paper is to further extend the sleep literature into the organizational psychology literature, with a focus on self-regulation in the workplace. I summarize the sleep literature into a model of sleep self-regulation. Next, I highlight initial research in organizational psychology which has drawn from basic sleep physiology research. Following this, I generate new propositions linking sleep to work withdrawal, goal level, incivility, and defection in workplace social dilemmas. Finally, I close with a discussion of methods for conducting sleep research in organizational psychology, as well as some promising areas for future research.

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Article details
Virginia Tech (2012). Working in our sleep: Sleep and self-regulation in organizations Organizational Psychology Review : 10.1177/2041386612450181

Tags: deviant/counterproductive behaviour, emotions and moods, job attitudes/beliefs/values