Interventions to increase sleep duration in young people: A systematic review

The impact of chronic insomnia disorder on menstruation and ovarian reserve in childbearing-age women: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a disorder characterized by impaired ovarian function. Sleep disorders are disruptions of the circadian rhythm, which appears to be closely linked to reproductive systems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of poor sleep quality on the ovarian reserve of childbearing-age women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in China from June 2021 to March 2023. In total, 102 participants diagnosed with chronic insomnia disorder were included in the study. Questionnaires were administered to assess participants' menstrual patterns, insomnia severity, anxiety, and depression. The anti-Müllerian hormone level and the basal antral follicle count were measured for ovarian reserve evaluation. Correlation analysis and ordinal logistic regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

The women with insomnia presented high percentages of hypomenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome, and dysmenorrhea (78.4%, 74.5%, and 46.1%, respectively). Severe sleep disorder in the past month was identified as an independent risk factor for hypomenorrhea and premenstrual syndrome (odds ratio [OR], 2.64 and OR, 2.688; p<0.05). The prevalence of DOR among women with insomnia (33.3%) was significantly higher than the average reported in previous studies for young women. Insomnia duration exceeding 1 year was determined to be an independent risk factor for DOR in women aged 36 to 40 years (OR, 4.5; p=0.033).

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the association between sleep disorders and menstrual problems. Prolonged poor sleep quality in women aged 36 to 40 years was identified as a significant risk factor for DOR. We should pay more attention to improving sleep quality in order to maintain normal ovarian function.

"I'm not sure if it works": School nurses' experiences of sleep-promoting work in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

Lack of sleep is a common problem in children and adolescents of school age (students), and it is a health aspect that affects the ability to assimilate into the school's education and thereby falls within the school nurses promoting work. This study aimed to describe school nurses' experiences of sleep-promoting work.

METHOD

Data were collected by n = 61 school nurses' written narratives of their sleep-promotion work. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS

The results describe school nurses' experiences of sleep-promoting work in three main categories: (1) Informing and providing knowledge is the primary task. School nurses do it systematically, through dialogs with an individual student, with several students simultaneously, or with parents. (2) Benefits take place when the needs of the student guide the work. Through curiosity about the personal story, the keys to sleep-promoting work can be found, appropriate strategies can be given, and the student can be guided further if needed. (3) Barriers challenge the outcome of the work. The school nurses experience these barriers in the form of unmotivated students, unsupportive parents, and lack of prerequisites, which make the school nurses unsure of their performance.

CONCLUSIONS

School nurses experience a significant benefit in their sleep-promoting work when the needs of the student guide the sleep-promoting information, strategies, and follow-ups. To avoid feeling insecure in sleep-promoting work, school nurses need updates on the state of knowledge and evidence-based tools. Further research on sleep-promoting work at school is necessary.