Causes of Insomnia

Financial stress doesn’t switch off when the working day ends. New research shows that worries about money can follow workers into the night, causing insomnia, poor sleep quality and daytime fatigue that can affect both health and safety at work.

A recent study led by researchers at Rice University examined full-time Army and Air National Guard personnel over a nine-month period. Sleep patterns were tracked using wrist-worn devices, along with self-reported stress and sleep data collected at different stages of the study.

At the start, participants shared how stressed they felt about their finances. Several months later, researchers assessed how much stress they experienced at bedtime. Finally, sleep health was measured, focusing on insomnia symptoms, sleep quality and daytime functioning.

The findings were clear. Workers who reported higher financial stress were more likely to experience elevated stress at night. This bedtime stress was strongly linked to insomnia, lighter and disrupted sleep, and increased daytime impairment. Poor sleep was shown to affect concentration, memory, learning and overall performance.

Importantly, the study found that insomnia was not limited to workers who were visibly struggling financially. Even individuals who appeared financially stable reported poor sleep when they felt vulnerable about job security, paying for basic needs or relying heavily on a single income. This internal sense of financial pressure was enough to disrupt sleep patterns.

Researchers highlighted that economic stress is now widespread, while poor sleep has already become a major public health concern. When combined, these two issues can quietly reduce productivity, increase errors and raise the risk of workplace incidents, particularly in safety-critical roles.

Experts emphasised that employers play an important role in reducing these risks. Supportive management, fair pay, clear career progression, financial well-being support and flexible schedules can help reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality. The long-term benefit is a healthier, more alert and more resilient workforce.

From a health and safety perspective, insomnia caused by financial stress is not just a personal issue. It directly affects alertness, decision-making and reaction times at work. Addressing financial well-being should therefore be seen as part of a wider occupational safety and mental health strategy.

Organisations focused on workplace health, safety and employee wellbeing, such as OSHAssociation.org, continue to highlight the importance of tackling hidden stressors like financial anxiety. By promoting awareness, education and proactive wellbeing measures, businesses can help protect workers’ health while improving overall safety and performance.