Psychosocial correlates of subjective sleep disturbances in an adolescent community population in South Korea

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between psychosocial factors and insomnia complaints in a community adolescent population. The aims of this study are: –to find the prevalence of poor sleep quality complaints in Korean community students; –to explore the relationship between poor sleep quality complaints and the psychosocial factors; –to explore the relationship between the severity of poor sleep and the psychopathology in the adolescents in Korea. It is a cross-sectional study of a stratified sample of 2307 South Korean middle and high-school students. Subjects were given the Adolescent Mental Health and Problem Behavior Screening Questionnaire-II (AMPQ-II), the Symptom Checklist scale (SCL-90-R) and a questionnaire concerning demographic characteristics. Adolescents classified as suffering from sleep disturbances (22.3% of the participants) presented higher levels of general psychopathology. Age, gender, academic and Internet use problems, peer relationship difficulties including school violence, rule violation experiences were identified as correlates of the sleep disturbances complaints. Psychosocial correlates such as suicidal ideation and Internet use problems are important factors to consider when faced with sleep disturbance complaints in this age group. It was found that psychosocial and psychopathologic problems had a positive correlation with severity of sleep disturbances. Regarding the culture of hiding the psychological distress and exhibit the somatic complaints, the level of subjective sleep quality is one indicator for the screening of the high-risk group. Large-scale prospective studies and neurobiological studies are needed for a better understanding of the complex relationship between sleep, psychopathology, and youth suicidal behavior.