Psychological Well-Being in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Associated With Obesity: The Relationship With Personality, Cognitive Functioning, and Subjective and Objective Sleep Quality.

Federica Scarpina,Ilaria Maria Angela Tovaglieri,Gianluca Castelnuovo,Mauro Cornacchia,Emanuela Giacomotti,Lorenzo Priano,Simone Cappelli,Enrico Molinari,Ilaria Bastoni,Paolo Fanari,Alessandro Mauro

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588767

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome severely affects psychological well-being. This syndrome frequently occurs in obesity; however, no previous study has investigated the level of psychological well-being in the case of OSA syndrome associated with obesity. In this work, we assessed the level of psychological well-being in fifty-two individuals affected by OSA syndrome and obesity through the Psychological General Well-Being Index. Moreover, we investigated the role of personality, cognitive functioning and attentional capabilities, subjective perception and objective measurement about sleeping, on the subjective perception of psychological well-being. Our sample reported a lower level of psychological well-being; the participants’ scores were below the normative cut-off in all components, except for depression symptoms. A lower expression of harm avoidance temperament and a lower level of daily sleepiness predicted a higher level of psychological well-being. Psychological well-being seemed to be severely affected in individuals affected by OSA syndrome and obesity. The temperament and subjective perception of daily alertness and sleepiness, rather than the syndrome severity, seemed to play a crucial role in the individual perception of the psychological well-being.

Highlights

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by periodic reductions or cessations of airflow due to narrowing of the upper airway during sleep
Higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms (i.e., Ohayon, 2003; Naismith et al, 2004; Saunamäki and Jehkonen, 2007; Harris et al, 2009; Sanchez et al, 2009; Hobzova et al, 2017) are registered. Some of these symptoms seem to be more related to the degree of daytime sleepiness, that is an effect of the disease, than to the degree of nocturnal hypoxemia, which expresses the severity of the disease (Naismith et al, 2004; Karkoulias et al, 2013)
Iacono Isidoro et al (2013) highlighted that some individual factors might play a crucial role in the subjective perception of the psychological impact of OSA syndrome symptoms on psychological well-being, in line with evidence about beliefs and coping strategies (Dodge et al, 2012) as well as personality traits (Ryff, 2014)

Summary

Introduction

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by periodic reductions (i.e., hypopnea) or cessations (i.e., apnea) of airflow due to narrowing of the upper airway during sleep. Affected individuals generally report to suffering from excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep fragmentation, and drowsiness, together with decreased energy, reduced level of concentration and alertness, and overall cognitive difficulties (i.e., Akashiba et al, 2002; Zhou et al, 2016; Simões et al, 2018; Angelelli et al, 2020). These symptoms impact negatively on individuals’ efficacy in daily-life activities, such as working, driving, social interaction, and they increase the risk of (work- or road-) accidents (Vaessen et al, 2015). Iacono Isidoro et al (2013) highlighted that some individual factors might play a crucial role in the subjective perception of the psychological impact of OSA syndrome symptoms on psychological well-being, in line with evidence about beliefs and coping strategies (Dodge et al, 2012) as well as personality traits (Ryff, 2014)

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