The frequency of insomnia and associated factors among schoolteachers in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among schoolteachers. We aimed to investigate the frequency and prevalence of insomnia among schoolteachers in western Saudi Arabia. Methods: An online survey was distributed to schoolteachers in the Makkah region. The validated insomnia severity index was used to find the frequency of insomnia among teachers. Results: A total of 499 teachers participated in this study, with a mean age of 45.6 (SD = 8.45). Most had no clinically significant or subthreshold insomnia (50.10% and 36.27%, respectively), while 1.40% of the teachers reported severe insomnia and 12.22% reported moderate insomnia. Most of the teachers had a reasonable awareness of insomnia (99.93%). Moreover, past histories of insomnia and depression were significantly associated with insomnia (p-value = 0.000). Conclusion: Insomnia is a common sleep issue among schoolteachers, according to our findings. Accordingly, annual screening programs are necessary for its early detection. Furthermore, we suggest that future studies estimate the prevalence of insomnia among teachers nationally.