Brain Sleep Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Atsushi Hirota; hereinafter "Brain Sleep") announced the results of a joint analysis with the Stanford University Circadian Neurobiology Laboratory (SCNL) on "The Impact of Commuting and Telecommuting on Sleep and Daytime Productivity" at the 49th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Sleep Research (hereinafter "the Society"), held at Hiroshima University (Higashihiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture) from June 28 (Saturday) to June 29 (Sunday), 2025. Overview ＜Presentation Overview＞Session Name: General Oral Presentation 7 "Sleep Health 1" Date: June 28, 2025 (Sat) 10:20-11:10Venue: F Venue Presentation Title: "The Impact of Commuting and Telecommuting on Sleep and Productivity: A Large-Scale Survey of 10,000 Employed Individuals"＜Survey Overview＞Survey Method: Online survey targeting a survey panelSurvey Target Area: NationwideTarget Audience: Men and women in their 20s to 60sSample Size: n=10,000ss (stratified sampling based on residential area, age, and gender)Survey Period: January 2025Analysis Method: Sleep duration, sleep quality score*1, daytime sleepiness score*2, productivity score*3, commuting time, commuting method, and frequency of telecommuting were analyzed. *1 Questionnaire to evaluate sleep quality (maximum 21 points; higher score indicates poorer sleep quality)*2 Questionnaire to evaluate daytime sleepiness (maximum 24 points; higher score indicates stronger daytime sleepiness)*3 Questionnaire to evaluate daytime productivity with a maximum score of 100 points (higher score indicates higher daytime productivity) Result ① The Impact of Commuting Time on Sleep and Daytime Productivity For every 1-minute increase in round-trip commuting time, the following statistically significant effects were observed*4. While the relationship between commuting time and sleep duration has been pointed out before, this survey showed that it affects not only the "quantity" of sleep but also its "quality" and daytime condition. Japan is said to have long commuting times even among OECD member countries*5, suggesting that long commutes may contribute to sleep problems and decreased productivity among Japanese people. This research result visualizes the various impacts of commuting time. *4 Only items with significant differences were extracted through multiple regression analysis (p<0.05)*5 OECD Better Life Index: https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org Result ② The Impact of Commuting Method on Sleep and Daytime Productivity Compared to those who commute by other means (car, bicycle, walking, etc.), people who commute by train or bus showed the following statistically significant effects. It was found that people who commute by train or bus had shorter sleep durations, but better sleep quality, lower daytime sleepiness, and higher productivity. This suggests that "disposable sleep time"*6 may be secured by taking naps on trains or buses during commutes, or that even with shorter sleep hours, high sleep quality leads to positive effects on daytime performance. According to the results of the National Census, more than 40% of people in Japan commute by car nationwide*7, but OECD data reports that approximately 40% of people in the metropolitan area commute by train or bus, making it the most common method*8. This research revealed that not only commuting time but also commuting method affects sleep and daytime productivity. *6 The actual time available for sleep, calculated as total time in a day minus (time spent on activities such as work, commuting, housework, childcare) minus (free time and leisure time)*7 2020 National Census: https://www.stat.go.jp/data/kokusei/2020/kekka.html*8 OECD Local Data Portal: https://localdataportal.oecd.org Result ③ The Impact of Telecommuting Frequency on Sleep and Daytime Productivity For every one-day increase in weekly telecommuting frequency, the following statistically significant effects were observed. It was found that frequent telecommuting resulted in longer sleep duration but poorer sleep quality, higher daytime sleepiness, and lower productivity. This suggests that although sleep time can be secured due to the absence of commuting compared to office work, it becomes difficult to establish a clear distinction between work and rest, leading to a deterioration in sleep quality and, consequently, lower work performance. The Sleep Deviation Score® Survey 2021*9, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, also reported that irregular work styles, such as telecommuting one to two times a week, resulted in lower sleep quality. The results of this study also suggest that different work styles within the week may worsen sleep quality. *9 Sleep Deviation Score® Survey 2021: https://brain-sleep.com/pages/research2021 49th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Sleep Research Overview Period: June 28 (Sat) - June 29 (Sun), 2025Venue: Hiroshima University Kasumi CampusTheme: "Sleep Science as an Integrated Science"Official Website: https://www.c-linkage.co.jp/jssr49/index.htmlPresident: Mitsuo Hayashi, Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University
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