Stronger Associations Between Sleep and Mental Health in Adults with Autism: A UK Biobank Study

Henderson, Lisa; Clair, Michelle St; Knowland, Victoria C. P.; Rijn, Elaine van; Walker, Sharyn M.; Gaskell, M. Gareth

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05382-1

Cited by 11 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…Building on previous studies in autistic adults linking general sleep disturbances to depressive symptoms (Puzino et al, 2021; Stewart et al, 2020), the current study is the first to control for demographic and life factors known to influence both sleep and depression in investigating these associations. We found that lower sleep efficiency was associated with higher depressive symptoms on the BDI‐II, furthering previous findings on these associations in both autistic adolescents and adults to show the effect of sleep efficiency above and beyond the impact of demographic and life circumstances (Henderson et al, 2021; Richdale et al, 2014). Moreover, the follow‐up analysis helps tease apart the effect of sleep efficiency, showing that both sleep latency and wake after sleep onset contributed to the association between sleep efficiency and depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…In autistic adults, there is emerging evidence associating general sleep disturbances with depression (Puzino et al, 2021; Stewart et al, 2020) and psychiatric symptoms (Gisbert Gustemps et al, 2021). Poor sleep quality and sleep efficiency have also been associated with general mental health and wellbeing (Henderson et al, 2021; Jovevska et al, 2020). Additionally, longitudinal studies have found that sleep disturbances and sleep quality are predictors of later quality of life in autistic adults (Deserno et al, 2019; Lawson et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patterns of sleep disturbances and associations with depressive symptoms in autistic young adults

et al. 2022

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Autistic individuals are at an increased risk for both sleep disturbances and depression. While studies in the general population and in autistic adults have drawn general links between sleep disturbances and mental health, few studies have examined the extent to which specific sleep problems may be implicated in the extremely high rates of depression among autistic adults. This study aimed to describe the patterns of sleep disturbances in autistic young adults, and their associations with depressive symptoms while controlling for relevant demographic factors. A sample of 304 legally independent adults (age 18–35 years old) with a childhood diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder self‐reported on their average sleep behaviors during the past week and depressive symptoms on the Beck Depressive Inventory‐II. A significant proportion (86.01%) of autistic young adults experienced at least one of the primary sleep disturbances of interest, including short total sleep time (39.59%), poor sleep efficiency (60.07%), and delayed sleep phase (36.18%). Additionally, lower sleep efficiency and delayed sleep phase were both associated with higher depressive symptoms. The associations between sleep and depressive symptoms identified in our study suggest that sleep treatments may hold potential for ameliorating depressive symptoms in autistic adults who also experience sleep problems. Further research using daily sleep diaries and objective measures of sleep behaviors, as well as longitudinal studies, are needed to understand how changes in sleep may relate to changes in depressive symptoms in autistic adults.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of sleep disturbances and associations with depressive symptoms in autistic young adults

et al. 2022

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“…When considering the association of affect-recognition ability with other common conditions in ASD symptoms, we found a significant positive correlation with sleep quality. As disturbances in sleep efficiency [ 76 , 77 ] and sleep difficulties [ 43 , 78 ] are common in ASD, future interventions may need to consider emotional-processing issues when considering interventions surrounding the improvement of sleep quality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between Affect Recognition, Empathy, Alexithymia, and Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism

et al. 2023

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Prior studies show differences in empathy and affect-recognition ability between those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals. Autistic individuals also exhibit increased behavioral, gastrointestinal, and sleep issues. In the current study, we explored the differences in empathy and affect recognition between the ASD and TD groups; and we investigated their associations with conditions co-occurring in ASD. A total of 56 TD and 57 ASD children (8–17 years) were included. As compared to the TD group, the ASD group showed lower scores for affect recognition and perspective taking (PT) and higher scores for personal distress (PD). Interestingly, results from hierarchical linear regressions suggested that disparities in the PD and PT between the groups were primarily attributable to attenuated levels of alexithymia, rather than being mediated by the presence of an autism diagnosis. Differences in affect-recognition ability, however, were mediated by both an autism diagnosis and alexithymia. We also found significant correlations between empathy and affect recognition and measures of related conditions common in ASD. Alexithymia, hence, contributes to difficulties in empathy while both alexithymia and autism are associated with affect-recognition ability in ASD. Additionally, the association between affect recognition and empathic ability with co-occurring conditions in ASD needs to be considered during assessments and interventions.

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“…It also resonates with findings of greater female susceptibility to sleep difficulties in other disorders. For example, females with autism are at greater risk of poor sleep efficiency than males ( 40 ), with claims that an increased incidence of internalizing difficulties in females with autism may put them at greater risk of sleep difficulties (or vice versa) ( 41 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sleep health among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a linked UK population cohort study

et al. 2022

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ObjectivesSleep problems are a transdiagnostic feature of nearly all psychiatric conditions, and a strong risk factor for initial and recurrent episodes. However, people with severe mental ill health (SMI) are often excluded from general population surveys, and as such the extent and associates of poor sleep in this population are less well understood. This study explores sleep health in an SMI sample during the COVID-19 pandemic, using multiple regression to identify risk factors, including daily routine, wellbeing and demographics.MethodsAn existing cohort of people with an SMI diagnosis were sampled. Participants were invited to complete a self-report survey about their health and the impacts of COVID-19 and associated public health measures. Sleep duration, efficiency, and quality were measured using items from the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).ResultsTwo hundred forty-nine adults (aged 21–84 years) completed the survey. Mean sleep duration and efficiency were similar to general population estimates, at 7 h 19 min and 78%, respectively. However, 43% reported “bad” sleep quality that was associated with being younger in age as well as disturbed routine and declined wellbeing. Indeed, 37% reported a disturbed routine during the pandemic.ConclusionsHigh estimates of perceived poor sleep quality in the SMI population align with previous findings. Supporting people with SMI to maintain routine regularity may work to protect sleep quality and wellbeing. Future research should more closely examine sleep health in people with SMI, using accessible and scalable measures of objective and subjective sleep, examining longitudinal trends.

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Stronger Associations Between Sleep and Mental Health in Adults with Autism: A UK Biobank Study

Cited by 11 publications

References 107 publications

Patterns of sleep disturbances and associations with depressive symptoms in autistic young adults

Patterns of sleep disturbances and associations with depressive symptoms in autistic young adults

Relationships between Affect Recognition, Empathy, Alexithymia, and Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism

Sleep health among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a linked UK population cohort study

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