780 Perceived Deprivation Of Social Touch And Sleep Symptoms: Results From A Pre-COVID19 Community Study

Abstract

IntroductionThe impact of social isolation and touch deprivation on sleep symptoms (insomnia, nightmares) during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID19) pandemic has been recognized. These results however may have been confounded by various other disease-related factors that can directly impact sleep eg., medical complications associated with COVID19; trauma response and the economic impact of the pandemic. We examined previously unpublished data, from an earlier Canadian community-based survey (1997–1998) of psychosomatic factors (including sleep symptoms), associated with perceived touch deprivation (PTD).Methods360 consecutive consenting participants (316 community volunteers,44 psychiatric outpatients; 270 women; 94% white; mean±SD age: 38.3±14.5 years) completed a large battery of questions related to psychosomatic factors and the skin. The methods are described in previous publications [Gupta MA 2004; Gupta MA 2006] from this study. PTD was measured with the following item (rated on a 10-point Likert-type scale where “0” denoted “not at all” and rating of “9” denoted “very markedly”): “At the present time I wish I could get more hugs from others”’. Some of the sleep ratings in the survey read as follows: Insomnia1: “How long do you generally take to fall asleep at night?”(rating of “1” denoted “immediately”, “2” denoted ”1hour”). Secondly, participants rated how frequently they experienced the following sleep symptoms using a 4-point scale: “Awakenings from sleep”(Insomnia 2); “Dreams”; “Nightmares: “Snoring”; and “Jerking of arms or legs” (rating of “1” denoted “Never”, “2” denoted “Sometimes”, “3” denoted “Often”, 4 denoted “Always”).ResultsPTD scale scores (mean±SD: 3.81±2.85; range 0–9) correlated significantly with the following: Insomnia1 (r=0.219, p<0.001); Insomnia2 (r=0.130, p=0.014); Nightmares (r=0.118, p=0.018); Limb jerking (r=0.209, p<0.001), and age (r=-0.208, p<0.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis using PTD as dependent variable and all sleep ratings, age and sex as independent variables revealed the following predictors for PTD: Insomnia1(β=0.171,t=3.3267, p=0.001), Limb jerking (β=0.151,t=2.876, p=0.004), age (β= -0.179, t= -3.456, p=0.001).ConclusionIn a pre-COVID19 community study, PTD was more problematic among the younger age group, and correlated with sleep onset and maintenance difficulties, nightmares and limb jerking, highlighting the importance of social touch in sleep.Support (if any)None