Two-year changes in sleep duration are associated with changes in psychological distress in adolescent girls and boys: the fit futures study

Abstract

Objective Studies indicate an inverse association between sleep duration and psychological distress. We aimed to explore associations between changes in sleep duration and changes in psychological distress in girls and boys. Methods The Fit Futures Study is a broad adolescent study providing data from 373 girls and 294 boys aged 15–18 years collected in 2010/2011 (FF1) and 2012/2013 (FF2). Psychological distress was measured by the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10) and sleep duration was self-reported. Change score variables were calculated as the change between baseline and follow-up for sleep duration and HSCL-10, respectively. Associations between changes in sleep duration and changes in HSCL-10 were explored by linear regressions, in gender-stratified analyses. Results At FF1, girls and boys slept on average 6.93 (SD = 1.08) and 7.05 (SD = 1.20) hours per night respectively, and correspondingly, 6.83 (SD = 1.19) and 6.85 (SD = 1.21) at FF2. At FF1, 22.8% of the girls and 25.8% of the boys slept ≤ 6 h per night, and correspondingly 28.0% and 28.2% at FF2. In girls and boys, one unit increase (30 min) in sleep duration was associated with a decrease in HSCL-10 score of B [95% CI] = −0.090 [−0.131, −0.048], p < 0.001, and −0.054 [−0.091, −0.017], p < 0.001, respectively. The associations remained significant after adjusting for confounders. Conclusion Our findings show that increased sleep duration was associated with decreased psychological distress during adolescence. Future studies should examine the causality between sleep duration and psychological distress.

Asociación entre calidad y cantidad de sueño con índice de masa corporal en adolescentes universitarios: Estudio transversal

“…Los hallazgos conllevan ciertas implicaciones en el ámbito académico, al respecto, diversos autores han propuesto una serie de estrategias educativas enfocadas en la modificación de creencias erróneas en torno al sueño (como pensar que una cantidad insuficiente de sueño no produce consecuencias severas a largo plazo o considerar que las horas perdidas de sueño se pueden recuperar), y la educación en salud para mejorar la higiene del sueño, brindar asesoría para modificar los patrones de sueño de las personas, evitar el consumo de sustancias (nicotina, cafeína y alcohol) y la realización de ciertas actividades (tiempo frente a pantallas y actividad física vigorosa) que alteran el patrón del sueño previo a la hora de acostarse 8 , así como la reducción en los niveles de estrés, debido a que éste afecta negativamente el peso corporal, la duración y la calidad del sueño 29,30 . Estrategias que pueden ser implementadas en los programas educativos de las instituciones de educación superior.…”