Time to think: Subjective sleep quality, trait anxiety and university start time

Canonical correlation analysis of depression and anxiety symptoms among college students and their relationship with physical activity

To explore the association between depression and anxiety symptoms among college students and the relationship between the two and physical activity. A cross-sectional study design was used to survey 1790 enrolled university students using the Depression Self-Rating Scale, Anxiety Self-Rating Scale and Physical Activity Rating Scale. 37.75% of male students and 39.73% of female students detected depressive symptoms, 17.65% of male students and 17.86% of female students detected anxiety symptoms, 11.89% of male students and 11.75% of female students detected both depressive and anxiety symptoms. Canonical correlation between depression and anxiety symptoms of college students were significant. The depression and anxiety score of college students in the high level group was significantly lower than that in the low and medium level groups, and no significant difference was found between the low and medium level groups. Affective disorder and anxious mood of male students correlated most closely with intensity, while somatic disorder, psychomotor disorder and depressive psychological disorder correlated most closely with duration. Affective disorder of female students correlated most closely with frequency, depressive psychological disorder and anxious mood correlated most closely with intensity, while premonition of misfortune and frequent urination correlated most closely with duration. Depression and anxiety symptoms of college students were closely related and co-occurrence was common. Students with high level of physical activity had milder symptoms. Different exercise interventions are recommended for different symptoms.

Burnout Syndrome and Sleep Quality in Basic Education Teachers in Mexico

Burnout syndrome (BS) is the result of chronic stress in the workplace. Moreover, chronic stress can affect sleep. A unidirectional relationship has been established between burnout and sleep, and it is known that white-collar workers with burnout syndrome have sleep fragmentation and marked daytime sleepiness.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between burnout and sleep quality in elementary school teachers in Mexico.

METHODS

We collected data from more than 400 teachers who completed tests. Correlation analyses controlled for anxiety and depression, and Poisson logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships of burnout with sleep quality, depression, and anxiety.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between burnout syndrome (mainly in the dimension of emotional exhaustion) and sleep disturbances; significant correlations were also observed with other burnout, depression, and anxiety dimensions. The strength of the correlations decreased after controlling for depression and anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

The symptoms of burnout syndrome in teachers can overlap with sleep disorders, so it is necessary to make a differential diagnosis to differentiate burnout syndrome from depression and anxiety, among others.

Sleep Quality and Sleep Hygiene Behaviours Among University Students in Qatar

Background

Insomnia is a highly prevalent health problem, affecting about one-third of the adult population globally. University students are at a high risk for developing insomnia due to the stressful nature of academic life and often unhealthy sleeping habits. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of poor sleep quality and investigate sleep hygiene patterns among university students in Qatar.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among university students using two validated instruments: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including correlation and multivariate regression analyses.

Results

Two thousand and sixty-two students responded to the web-based survey. The mean PSQI score (7.57±3.03) was indicative of poor sleep quality in approximately 70% of the students. Similarly, the mean SHI score (21.79±6.69) was indicative of poor sleep hygiene patterns in 79% of the students. Academic program type, marital status, gender, and sleep hygiene significantly influenced sleep quality. After controlling for all possible covariates in the multiple regression analysis, sleep hygiene remained as the only factor significantly predicting sleep quality. Students with a good sleep hygiene were about four times more likely to have a good sleep quality compared to those with poor sleep hygiene (adjusted OR= 3.66, 95% CI= 2.8-4.8, p <0.001).

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality and inadequate sleep hygiene practices were highly prevalent among university students in Qatar. Sleep hygiene was found to be the only significant predictor of sleep quality such that those adopting healthy sleep hygiene practices were more likely to have better sleep quality. Interventions to raise awareness on the effect of sleep hygiene on sleep quality among university students are needed.

The Effect of Trait Anxiety on Bedtime Procrastination: the Mediating Role of Self-Control

BACKGROUND

Bedtime procrastination (BP), a special type of health behavior procrastination, is considered to be a failure of self-control. Notably, self-control may mediate the effect of trait anxiety on general procrastination. However, there is no evidence demonstrating the role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP. Moreover, the association between BP and trait anxiety has not yet been thoroughly studied. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the direct relationship between them as well as the mediating role of self-control in this relationship.

METHODS

This cross-sectional survey included 718 college students enrolled in Chinese universities between October 2018 and January 2020. The Chinese versions of the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the Trait Anxiety Inventory were used to evaluate BP, self-control, and trait anxiety, respectively.

RESULTS

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed trait anxiety independently predicted BP while controlling for demographic characteristics. Correlation analyses showed that BP was positively correlated with trait anxiety, but negatively related to self-control. Structural equation modeling further revealed a mediating role of self-control in the relationship between trait anxiety and BP.

CONCLUSIONS

Trait anxiety is a significant independent predictor of BP and may induce BP directly or indirectly through the effect of self-control. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the relationship between trait anxiety and BP and the underlying mechanism by exploring the mediating effect of self-control. As such, trait anxiety and self-control should be included in prevention and intervention strategies to address BP behavior in college students.

Specific Pandemic-Related Worries Predict Higher Attention-Related Errors and Negative Affect Independent of Trait Anxiety in UK-Based Students

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many individuals experiencing increased symptoms of anxiety. We predict that this increase may be underpinned by pandemic-related worry (PRW), characterised by repetitive negative thinking about pandemic-specific outcomes; and that this relationship is mediated through reduced attentional capacity required to regulate negative affect.

Methods

We developed a novel scale to measure the contents of PRW in an initial sample of 255 participants, and explored its relationship with cognitive functioning and negative affect in a sample of 382 UK-based university students, whilst controlling for recalled pre-pandemic trait anxiety.

Results

A five-factor model of PRW was identified, with factors reflecting worry about decline in quality of life (QoL) and probability of infection correlating with attention and memory-related errors. Importantly, attention-related errors partially mediated the positive relationship between PRW and negative affect, even when controlling for pre-pandemic trait anxiety.

Conclusion

PRW's relationship with negative affect was partially mediated through attentional function, consistent with models of anxiety and attentional control. In UK-based students PRW may be predominantly focused on the decline in QoL; therefore, interventions targeting worry about the decline in QoL caused by COVID-19 are especially important in this population in the wake of the pandemic.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10608-022-10336-7.

Developing and validating a university needs instrument to measure the psychosocial needs of university students

BACKGROUND

University students are four times more likely to experience elevated levels of psychological distress compared to their peers. The psychosocial needs of university students are associated with high psychological distress, stressful life events, and academic performance. Our study focuses on developing a measure to help universities identify these psychosocial needs.

AIMS

The study aimed to develop and validate the factor structure of the University Needs Instrument and identify the relationship between psychosocial needs, psychological distress and academic performance among university students.

SAMPLE

Undergraduate university students (N = 511) currently studying at university.

METHOD

Participants completed demographic questions, the University Needs Instrument and the Kessler-10 Psychological Distress scale. The University Needs Instrument comprises 30 items within six psychosocial factors (academic support, financial support, support from family, support from friends, practical support and emotional support), each consisting of five items.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis showed that all items significantly loaded on the six hypothesized factors. The hypothesized model was supported by the data displaying excellent model fit and psychometric properties. Our analysis determined that the UNI has strong internal consistency. The results also confirmed that university students' high levels of psychological distress and their academic performance may be affected by their psychosocial needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings have provided an initial validation of the UNI to help screen and identify the psychosocial needs of university students. This scale can be used to identify the appropriate psychosocial support that can be offered to students and in turn could help reduce their psychological distress, improve their psychosocial well-being and increase academic performance.

The relationship between physical activity and trait anxiety in college students: The mediating role of executive function

Objectives

Aimed to analyze the mediating effect of executive function between physical activity level and trait anxiety in college students.

Methods

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Stroop task, 1-back task, and More-odd shifting task were used to analyze 248 college students.

Results

Trait anxiety were significantly correlated with shifting function (r = 0.182, P = 0.004) and inhibition function (r = 0.163, P = 0.010) and not with working memory (r = 0.056, P = 0.385). Vigorous physical activity (VPA) was most highly correlated with inhibition function (Beta = −0.144, P = 0.024) and working memory (Beta = −0.208, P = 0.001), and light physical activity (LPA) was most highly correlated with shifting function (Beta = −0.211, P = 0.001). Physical activity had a 72.31% association with trait anxiety (B = −0.195), with 11.79% mediated by inhibition function (B = −0.023) and 15.90% by shifting function (B = −0.031).

Conclusion

College students' physical activity promotes both inhibition and shifting functions, which in turn affect trait anxiety. VPA had a direct effect, while the effect of moderate physical activity (MPA) and LPA was completely mediated exclusively through executive functions, and the mediating effect of shifting function was the highest. It is recommended that college workers should motivate students with high trait anxiety to engage in more VPA and pay attention to changes in their inhibition and shifting functions.

Factors that influence mental health of university and college students in the UK: a systematic review

Background

Worsening mental health of students in higher education is a public policy concern and the impact of measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19 has heightened awareness of this issue. Preventing poor mental health and supporting positive mental wellbeing needs to be based on an evidence informed understanding what factors influence the mental health of students.

Objectives

To identify factors associated with mental health of students in higher education.

Methods

We undertook a systematic review of observational studies that measured factors associated with student mental wellbeing and poor mental health. Extensive searches were undertaken across five databases. We included studies undertaken in the UK and published within the last decade (2010–2020). Due to heterogeneity of factors, and diversity of outcomes used to measure wellbeing and poor mental health the findings were analysed and described narratively.

Findings

We included 31 studies, most of which were cross sectional in design. Those factors most strongly and consistently associated with increased risk of developing poor mental health included students with experiences of trauma in childhood, those that identify as LGBTQ and students with autism. Factors that promote wellbeing include developing strong and supportive social networks. Students who are prepared and able to adjust to the changes that moving into higher education presents also experience better mental health. Some behaviours that are associated with poor mental health include lack of engagement both with learning and leisure activities and poor mental health literacy.

Conclusion

Improved knowledge of factors associated with poor mental health and also those that increase mental wellbeing can provide a foundation for designing strategies and specific interventions that can prevent poor mental health and ensuring targeted support is available for students at increased risk.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13943-x.

Life in lockdown: a longitudinal study investigating the impact of the UK COVID-19 lockdown measures on lifestyle behaviours and mental health

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the UK government enforcing lockdown restrictions to control virus transmission. Such restrictions present opportunities and barriers for physical activity and healthy eating. Emerging research suggests that in the early stages of the pandemic, physical activity levels decreased, consumption of unhealthy foods increased, while levels of mental distress increased. Our aims were to understand patterns of diet, physical activity, and mental health during the first lockdown, how these had changed twelve-months later, and the factors associated with change.

METHODS

An online survey was conducted with UK adults (N = 636; 78% female) during the first national lockdown (May-June 2020). The survey collected information on demographics, physical activity, diet, mental health, and how participants perceived lifestyle behaviours had changed from before the pandemic. Participants who provided contact details were invited to complete a twelve-month follow-up survey (May-June 2021), 160 adults completed the survey at both time-points. Descriptive statistics, T-tests and McNemar Chi Square statistics were used to assess patterns of diet, physical activity, and mental health at baseline and change in behaviours between baseline and follow-up. Linear regression models were conducted to explore prospective associations between demographic and psycho-social variables at baseline with change in healthy eating habit, anxiety, and wellbeing respectively.

RESULTS

Between baseline and follow-up, healthy eating habit strength, and the importance of and confidence in eating healthily reduced. Self-rated health (positively) and confidence in eating healthily (negatively) were associated with change in healthy eating habit. There were no differences between baseline and follow-up for depression or physical activity. Mean anxiety score reduced, and wellbeing increased, from baseline to follow-up. Living with children aged 12-17 (compared to living alone) was associated with an increase in anxiety, while perceiving mental health to have worsened during the first lockdown (compared to staying the same) was associated with reduced anxiety and an increase in mental wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

While healthy eating habits worsened in the 12 months since the onset of the pandemic, anxiety and mental wellbeing improved. However, anxiety may have increased for parents of secondary school aged children.

Resting-state functional connectivity of the sensory/somatomotor network associated with sleep quality: evidence from 202 young male samples

Previous neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that sleep is associated with brain functional changes in some specific brain regions. However, few studies have examined the relationship between all possible functional connectivities (FCs) within the sensory/somatomotor network (SSN) and the sleep quality of young male samples. The SSN consists of two motor cortices and is known to play a critical role in sleep. Poor sleep quality may be associated with increased sensory/somatomotor functional connectivity during rest. Hence, 202 young male participants underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan and completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results indicated that increased functional connectivity within the SSN was associated with poor sleep quality. Specifically, the total PSQI score was positively correlated with the increased functional connectivity of the left paracentral lobule (PCL), bilateral precentral gyrus (PreCG), supplementary motor area (SMA) and bilateral postcentral gyrus (PoCG). Additionally, our findings also exhibited that (a) the subjective sleep quality factor of PSQI was positively correlated with FC between the bilateral PoCG and the bilateral PCL as well as between the left PreCG and the right SMA; (b) the sleep latency factor of PSQI was positively correlated with FC between the left PoCG and the right precuneus (PCUN); (c) the sleep disturbances factor of PSQI was positively correlated with FC between the left PCL and the right PoCG, and (d) the daytime dysfunction factor of PSQI was positively correlated with FC between the bilateral PoCG and the left PCL as well as between the bilateral PreCG and the SMA. In short, our findings can be comprehensively understood as neural mechanisms of intrinsic SSN connectivity are associated with sleep quality of man. Meanwhile, it may expand our knowledge and provide new insight into a deeper understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms of sleep or sleep problems.

The Relationship of Neuroticism with Sleep Quality: The Mediating Role of Emotional, Cognitive and Metacognitive Factors

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality is associated with a broad range of psychopathology and is a common problem among college students. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of metacognitive beliefs related to sleep, emotion regulation and a negative cognitive style related to anxiety (looming cognitive style) in the relation between neuroticism and reported sleep quality.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants were 343 undergraduates from three universities in Tehran (56.3% females, Mean age = 22.01 ± 2.74 years).

METHOD

Data were gathered with a questionnaire packet that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Metacognitions Questionnaire-Insomnia (MCQ-I), Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ) and Neuroticism subscale of NEO-PI-R.

RESULTS

Structural equation modeling analyses supported a proposed model (R² = 37%) which proposed that neuroticism both directly and indirectly linked to reported sleep quality through metacognitions related to sleep, cognitive reappraisal and looming cognitive style (χ2 = 1194.87, p < .001; CFI = 0.93, NFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.065, GFI = 0.92, SRMR = 0.069, IFI = 0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide evidence for the impact of neuroticism on reported sleep quality through metacognitive, cognitive and emotional factors. The result suggest that special attention should be paid to these factors in the treatment and psychopathology of sleep quality.

Lecture start time and sleep characteristics: Analysis of daily diaries of undergraduate students from the LoST-Sleep project

OBJECTIVES

Emerging evidence shows that later high school start times are associated with increased sleep duration; however, little is known if this extends to the university setting. This study investigated associations of first lecture start times with sleep characteristics among university students.

DESIGN

Daily diaries.

SETTING

Lincoln, UK.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and fifty-five undergraduate students completed 7-night sleep diaries MEASUREMENTS: Of the plausible lecture-day diaries (Monday-to-Friday, expected N = 755 days), 567 days were lecture days (M = 3.8 lecture-days per student, SD = 1.1). The Consensus Sleep Diary was used to collect sleep characteristics. Two-level multilevel mixed effect generalized linear models were employed in the analyses.

RESULTS

Seventy-five percent of first lectures occurred before noon. Students reported short sleep (M = 7.0 hours, SD = 1.9) and fewer reported highest levels of sleep quality (42.8%) and restfulness (24.8%) when first lectures started at 09:00 or 09:30 compared to 10:00 or later. Every hour delay of first lecture start time was associated with 15.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.5; 20.7) minutes increase in sleep duration and higher odds of reporting the highest levels of sleep quality and restfulness. Focusing on attended lectures starting before noon, hourly delay of first lecture start time was associated with 37.4 (95% CI: 22.0; 52.8) minutes increased sleep duration. Bedtime, sleep time, and sleep onset latency were not significantly associated with first lecture start times.

CONCLUSION

This study found that undergraduate students had longer sleep and healthier sleep quality when university first lectures started later. The earliest lecture start time that afforded sufficient sleep duration for students was 10:00.

Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health, wellbeing, sleep, and alcohol use in a UK student sample

The COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent restrictions imposed by governments worldwide have had profound social and psychological effects, particularly for young adults. This study used longitudinal data to characterise effects on mental health and behaviour in a UK student sample, measuring sleep quality and diurnal preference, depression and anxiety symptoms, wellbeing and loneliness, and alcohol use. Self-report data was collected from 254 undergraduates (219 females) at a UK university at two-time points: autumn 2019 (baseline, pre-pandemic) and April/May 2020 (under 'lockdown' conditions).  Longitudinal analyses showed a significant rise in depression symptoms and a reduction in wellbeing at lockdown. Over a third of the sample could be classed as clinically depressed at lockdown compared to 15% at baseline. Sleep quality was not affected across the sample as a whole. The increase in depression symptoms was highly correlated with worsened sleep quality. A reduction in alcohol use, and a significant shift towards an 'evening' diurnal preference, were also observed. Levels of worry surrounding contracting COVID-19 were high. Results highlight the urgent need for strategies to support young people's mental health: alleviating worries around contracting COVID, and supporting good sleep quality, could benefit young adults' mental health as the COVID-19 crisis unfolds.

Should I study or should I go (to sleep)? The influence of test schedule on the sleep behavior of undergraduates and its association with performance

Sleep is crucial for college students' well-being. Although recommended sleep duration is between 7-9 hours per day, many students do not sleep that much. Scholar demands are among the causes of observed sleep deprivation in youth. We explored the influence of having a school test on previous night sleep in first-year students and the association of sleep duration and test performance. We ran two surveys in freshman students of the Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay: 1) 97 students of the School of Sciences who took the test at the same time; and 2) 252 School of Psychology students who took the test in four successive shifts. More than 1/2 of the participants (survey #1) and almost 1/3 (survey #2) reported short regular sleep duration (< 7h). In both samples, the sleep duration of the night before the test was reduced with respect to regular nights (survey #1: 2.1 ± 0.2 h, p < 0.001; survey #2: between 1.7 ± 0.4 h and 3.6 ± 0.3 h, all p < 0.001), with more than 10% of the students who did not sleep at all. In survey 2, sleep duration increased in later shifts (F (3,248) = 4.6, p = 0.004). Using logit regressions, we confirmed that sleep duration was positively related to test scores in both samples (survey #1: exp B = 1.15, p < 0.001; pseudo-R2 = 0.38; survey #2: exp B = 1.03, p < 0.001; pseudo-R2 = 0.25). Delaying test start time may prevent the reduction in sleep duration, which may also improve school performance. In addition, educational policies should include information for students about the impact of sleep on learning and of the consequences of reduced sleep duration.

Dysfunctional beliefs, sleep hygiene and sleep quality in university students

ISSUE ADDRESSED

Poor sleep quality is common among university students and can have negative implications for physical, emotional, cognitive and academic wellbeing. Previous research has identified that sleep beliefs and sleep behaviours are associated with poor sleep quality. However, few studies have examined these variables simultaneously. This study explored associations between dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, sleep hygiene and sleep quality in a sample of university students.

METHODS

Participants were recruited from a pool of undergraduate psychology students and included 120 male students and 145 female students with an average age of 20 years (SD = 5.10). Participants completed an online survey including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale, Sleep Hygiene Index and demographic items.

RESULTS

Overall 60.4% of participants (59.4% of women, 40.6% of men) had poor sleep quality. Logistic regression indicated a significant positive association between sleep hygiene and sleep quality, OR = 1.16, P >.001, 95% CI (1.10, 1.23), and no significant relationship between dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and sleep quality, OR = 1.03, P > .79, 95% CI (0.84, 1.26), after adjusting for covariates.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep interventions for university students are needed and could focus on common hygiene components, such as using the bed for activities other than sleeping, engaging in arousing activities before bed and how to manage thinking and worrying before bed. So What? The results of the study demonstrate poor sleep quality is common among university students and indicates that sleep interventions are warranted. The positive association found between sleep hygiene and sleep quality highlights that interventions should focus on behavioural components of sleep.

Sleep disturbances in obsessive-compulsive disorder: influence of depression symptoms and trait anxiety

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances have been reported in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, with heterogeneous results. The aim of our study was to assess sleep function in OCD and to investigate the relationship between sleep and the severity of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, depressive symptoms and trait anxiety.

METHODS

Sleep quality was measured in 61 OCD patients and 100 healthy controls (HCs) using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Multiple linear regression was conducted to explore the association between sleep and psychopathological measures; a mediation analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

OCD patients showed poor sleep quality and more sleep disturbances compared to HCs. The severity of depression, trait anxiety and OC symptomatology were correlated with poor sleep quality. Multiple linear regression analyses controlling for potential confounders revealed that the severity of depression and trait anxiety were independently related to poor sleep quality in OCD. A mediation analysis showed that both the severity of trait anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between the severity of OC symptoms and poor sleep quality among patients with OCD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings support the existence of sleep disturbances in OCD. Trait anxiety and depression play a key role in sleep quality among OCD patients.

Gender specificities of cardiovascular risk factors in students

Aim. To study gender differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) among higher education medical students.

Material and methods. We examined 74 men and 143 women studying at higher education medical institution. Behavioral and biological RF were evaluated. Psychoemotional status of participants was evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Statistical analysis was carried out using the software package Statistica 10.0 (StatSoft Inc).

Results. Among men, a significantly higher percentage of patients with overweight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2), higher blood pressure (BP), higher level of cholesterol, and smoking were recorded. Among women, a higher percentage of patients with tachycardia, a sedentary lifestyle, impaired sleep quality and falling asleep were recorded. Sleep duration in young women was significantly lower, and the level of anxiety, depression and stress were higher compared to men. Significant relationships between gender and psychological factors have been identified. Among women, correlations of psychological factors with such parameters as heart rate, total cholesterol, falling asleep and sleep quality were revealed. Among men, significant correlations of anxiety with increased BP, stress and exercise, as well as the presence of cardiovascular diseases in the father were revealed.

Conclusion. Gender specificities of RF were revealed: among men — higher frequency of metabolic disorders and higher blood pressure, and among women — psychological factors and low physical activity. It is reasonable to take they into account when developing and implementing individual diagnostic, treatment and prophylactic measures in students.

How is psychological stress linked to sleep quality? The mediating role of functional connectivity between the sensory/somatomotor network and the cingulo-opercular control network

How the functional connectivity of brain networks affects the relationship between psychological stress and sleep quality remains unclear. To better understand the associations between psychological stress, resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), and sleep quality, we used the RSFC, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Psychosomatic Tension Relaxation Inventory (PSTRI) to investigate the relationship between psychological stress, sleep quality, and RSFC in four brain networks, the sensory/somatomotor (SM) network, cigulo-opercular control (CO) network, default mode (DM) network, and dorsal attention (DA) network, in a large healthy sample of 315 college students from Southwest University. Results showed that the brain functional connectivity in the SM, CO, DM, and DA networks was significantly correlated to sleep quality. Meanwhile, we also found that the brain functional connectivity between the SM and CO networks partially mediated the relationship between psychological stress and sleep quality, suggesting that psychological stress has an important effect on individuals' sleep quality, and increased functional connectivity between the SM and CO networks provides a neural basis for the association between psychological stress and poor sleep quality.

Associations between diurnal preference, impulsivity and substance use in a young-adult student sample

A diurnal preference for eveningness is common in young adulthood and previous research has associated eveningness with anxiety symptoms as well as increased smoking and alcohol use behaviors. There is some evidence that impulsivity might be an important explanatory variable in these associations, but this has not been comprehensively researched. Here we used both subjective and objective measures of impulsivity to characterize impulsive tendencies in young adults and investigated whether trait impulsivity or trait anxiety could mediate the link between eveningness and substance use. A total of 191 university students (169 females), age range 18-25 y, completed the study. Diurnal preference, sleep quality, anxiety, impulsivity, and substance use were assessed by questionnaire. Impulsivity was also measured using a delay discounting task. Eveningness correlated with trait anxiety and trait impulsivity, and these associations were still significant after controlling for sleep quality. On the delayed discounting task, eveningness correlated with a tendency to prefer smaller immediate rewards over delayed, larger ones. Evening types also reported higher levels of alcohol and cigarette use even after controlling for sleep quality. These associations were found to be completely mediated by self-reported impulsivity; anxiety did not contribute. The current results could help inform interventions aiming to reduce substance use in young adult populations.

Burnout in university faculty: An interaction between subjective sleep quality and the OXTR rs2268498 polymorphism

BACKGROUND

Job burnout is a stress-related syndrome influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Poor sleep quality acting as a stressor may lead to job burnout. The oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) related to stress reactivity may also exert an effect on job burnout. We aimed to explore the effect of sleep quality, a functional OXTR rs2268498 polymorphism, and their interaction on job burnout in the Chinese population, which has not been explored yet.

METHODS

A preliminary study was performed using a cross-sectional design. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Malash Burnout Inventory (MBI) were measured from 575 healthy subjects. The OXTR rs2468498 polymorphism was genotyped in 376 subjects.

RESULTS

There were significant main effects of sleep quality (p<0.05), but not of the OXTR rs2468498 genotype on burnout. Interestingly, the interaction between sleep quality and the rs2468498 genotype was significant (p<0.05). In the poor sleep group, the C allele (C/C and T/C) carriers showed higher Emotional Exhaustion level than T homozygotes, while in the good sleep group, the C allele carrier showed a lower Emotional Exhaustion level.

LIMITATIONS

This study covered subjects from only one university and the sample size for genotyping was relatively small. As we analyzed only the OXTR rs2268498 polymorphism, this study could not reveal the effects of the cerebrospinal oxytocin concentration and the haplotypes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the OXTR polymorphism modulates the influence of subjective sleep quality on burnout. We conclude that the C allele of the OXTR rs2468498 polymorphism plays a susceptible role in job burnout.

Sleep Disturbances Rate among Medical and Allied Health Professions Students in Iran: Implications from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Literature

Medicine and healthcare professions are prestigious and valued careers and, at the same time, demanding, challenging, and arduous jobs. Medical and allied health professions students, experiencing a stressful academic and clinical workload, may suffer from sleep disturbances. In Iran, several studies have been conducted to explore the prevalence rate among medical and healthcare professions students. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to quantitatively and rigorously summarize the existing scholarly literature, providing the decision- and policy-makers and educators with an updated, evidence-based synthesis. Only studies utilizing a reliable psychometric instrument, such as the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), were included, in order to have comparable measurements and estimates. Seventeen investigations were retained in the present systematic review and meta-analysis, totaling a sample of 3586 students. Studies were conducted between 2008 and 2018 and reported an overall rate of sleep disturbances of 58% (95% confidence interval or CI 45–70). No evidence of publication bias could be found, but formal analyses on determinants of sleep disturbances could not be run due to the dearth of information that could be extracted from studies. Poor sleep is highly prevalent among Iranian medical and healthcare professions students. Based on the limitations of the present study, high-quality investigations are urgently needed to better capture the determinants of poor sleep quality among medical and healthcare professions students, given the importance and the implications of such a topic.

Sleep Predicts Collegiate Academic Performance: Implications for Equity in Student Retention and Success

College students show high levels of insufficient sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep schedule irregularity, poor sleep quality, and inadequate sleep hygiene. This article describes the evidence linking poor sleep with impaired academic performance; discusses mediating environmental, behavioral, and demographic factors that correlate with sleep; and highlights examples of successful health promotion initiatives on college campuses. Given that students who are traditionally minoritized on college campuses tend to have worse sleep, improving sleep health emerges as an important issue for retention, equity, and inclusion.

Overanxious and underslept

Are you feeling anxious? Did you sleep poorly last night? Sleep disruption is a recognized feature of all anxiety disorders. Here, we investigate the basic brain mechanisms underlying the anxiogenic impact of sleep loss. Additionally, we explore whether subtle, societally common reductions in sleep trigger elevated next-day anxiety. Finally, we examine what it is about sleep, physiologically, that provides such an overnight anxiety-reduction benefit. We demonstrate that the anxiogenic impact of sleep loss is linked to impaired medial prefrontal cortex activity and associated connectivity with extended limbic regions. In contrast, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) slow-wave oscillations offer an ameliorating, anxiolytic benefit on these brain networks following sleep. Of societal relevance, we establish that even modest night-to-night reductions in sleep across the population predict consequential day-to-day increases in anxiety. These findings help contribute to an emerging framework explaining the intimate link between sleep and anxiety and further highlight the prospect of non-rapid eye movement sleep as a therapeutic target for meaningfully reducing anxiety.

The gray matter volume of the right insula mediates the relationship between symptoms of depression/anxiety and sleep quality among college students

This study investigated the neuroanatomical basis of the association between depression/anxiety and sleep quality among 370 college students. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between sleep quality and depression/anxiety. Moreover, mediation results showed that the gray matter volume of the right insula mediated the relationship between depression/anxiety and sleep quality, which suggested that depression/anxiety may affect sleep quality through the right insula volume. These findings confirmed a strong link between sleep quality and depression/anxiety, while highlighting the volumetric variation in the right insula associated with emotional processing, which may play a critical role in improving sleep quality.