Association of Sleep Health Metrics (Sleep Duration and Quality) and Mental Health Status: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Amirhossein Shahsavand; Keyvan Karimi; Reza Samiee; Mehran Saberian; Yosra Azizpour; Samaneh Akbarpour; Khosro Sadeghniiat; Arezu Najafi

doi:10.18502/jbe.v11i1.19320

Amirhossein Shahsavand Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Keyvan Karimi Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Reza Samiee Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mehran Saberian Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Yosra Azizpour Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Samaneh Akbarpour Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Khosro Sadeghniiat Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Arezu Najafi Occupational Sleep Research Center, Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jbe.v11i1.19320

Keywords: Sleep; Anxiety; Depression; Suicide; Epidemiology; Sleep health; Sleep duration; Sleep quality

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep pattern is a vital part of healthy lifestyle, with deviations from the recommended 7 to < 9 hours associated to negative outcomes. Limited studies have investigated the relationship between sleep patterns and mental health in underserved urban communities. This study explores the association between sleep health metrics, such as sleep duration and mental health among the population residing in Southern Tehran.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study utilized data from 1,311 participants in the "Study Protocol and Lessons from Iran for the Integrated and Repeated Public Health Surveillance System (IRPHS)" telephone survey participants to evaluate amount of sleep duration (< 7 h and ≥ 9 h) and sleep quality, along with their associations with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and related sociodemographic factors.

Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of participants was 40.4±13.4 years, and 60.4% of the sample was female. Among our participants 15.0% had insufficient sleep (< 7 h) and 18.5% had long sleep duration (≥ 9 h). Sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and tobacco use were associated with sleep duration (p < 0.05). Moderate and high anxiety, moderate depression, and high suicidal ideation were associated with long sleep duration (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: In southern Tehran population, prevalence of both insufficient and long sleep duration is high. Poor sleep quality and oversleeping can happen due to underlying depression and anxiety, and targeting improvement of mental health can increase sleep health. The findings provide insights for prevention strategies tailored to the study