Strategies for optimizing social jetlag in social work students

Abstract

The frequently occurring phenomenon of social jetlag is a current problem that stimulates the development of diseases. The starting point for determining social jetlag is time regulation. It is determined by three factors: social time; which determines the interactions and tasks that organize life; physical time regulated by the sun, and biological time; which controls physiology (circadian rhythm). The mismatch between internal time and the social schedule in concert with solar time quanties the social jetlag. At issue is the mismatch between the natural preferences of circadian rhythm and the demands of social life. This results in different times for waking and sleeping. These cause sleep debt, which portends fatigue, insomnia but also longer-term effects on cardiovascular function, obesity and diabetes rates. For social work students, this phenomenon is particularly important in relation to the nature of the work for which they are preparing. Sensitive perceptions of one’s own time preference for work and sleep are part of the self-care toolkit stimulating a reduction in burnout syndrome. The aim of this study is to identify the extent of social jetlag in social work students and to propose effective strategies for its optimization. The quantitative research strategy used predicts effective capture of this phenomenon. Through an original questionnaire distributed to Social Work students in the academic year 2023/2024, the extent of social jetlag was ascertained. The authors’ questionnaire was divided into three sections. These identified the hourly distribution of activities (sleep, wakefulness, and eating) on academic and free days, whereas basic demographic characteristics were collected. Statistical processing was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28 and Datatab software. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare time metric data within a single group, while dissimilarity was determined in relation to the social schedule (instructional day vs. free day) of the students. Social jetlag was demonstrated in social work students. Through Mann-Whitney U-test, we identified a possible cause of social jetlag in the area of sleep. Extensive analysis of the results identified online strategy tools (Trello, Todoist, Asana, Forest) that can support effective time management and contribute to addressing the issue in social work students.