Well-being therapy and sleep hygiene in a non-clinical population of adults reporting poor sleep quality and distress: A remote pilot randomized controlled study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives This pilot randomized controlled study evaluates the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a 7-week remote intervention combining well-being therapy and sleep hygiene to improve sleep and psychological outcomes among adults reporting poor sleep and distress. Methods Thirty-one participants (81% women, 40.2 ± 13.0 y, 48% racial/ethnic minority) were recruited from the community during the COVID-19 pandemic through online and local advertisement, and randomized to well-being therapy+sleep hygiene or sleep hygiene-only. Study outcomes were evaluated by self-reported questionnaires administered at baseline and post-intervention and a daily sleep diary. Results Compared to sleep hygiene-only, well-being therapy+sleep hygiene led to greater improvements in wake after sleep onset (time-by-group interaction: 3.6 ± 1.5 min, p = .017), personal growth (β −3.0, 95%CI −5.2, −0.8, p = .01), and purpose in life (β −3.5, 95%CI −6.1, −0.9, p = .009). Anxiety, perceived stress, sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms improved similarly in both groups (between-group differences, p > .05). Improvements in sleep quality, insomnia, and sleep duration were associated with reductions in multiple measures of psychological distress (all p < .05). Conclusions These findings suggest that, in a non-clinical setting of individuals suffering from combined poor sleep and psychological distress, the addition of well-being therapy to sleep hygiene may provide additional benefits for sleep by promoting sleep continuity and well-being.