Self-reported Sleep Quality Research Articles

Abstract MP41: Associations Between Reallocations of Daytime Movement Behaviors and Self-Reported Sleep Quality and Insomnia Severity in Desk Workers

Introduction: While moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) is commonly associated with better sleep, few studies have considered the influence of sedentary behavior (SB) or light-intensity PA (LPA) on sleep or how reallocation of these daytime movement behaviors are associated with sleep. Purpose: To examine the association of reallocating time spent in daytime movement behaviors (SB, LPA, MVPA) with self-reported sleep quality and insomnia severity. Methods: Using baseline data from a clinical trial, 170 adults with desk jobs were included in analyses (84.1% white; 51.2% female; body mass index [BMI]=31.1±6.6 kg/m 2 ; age=44.7±10.8 y). Daily SB and MVPA were measured with activPAL and ActiGraph GT3x accelerometers, respectively, over ~7 days; SB was categorized into short- and long-bout SB (time spent in <30 or ≥30 min bouts, respectively). Daily LPA was calculated as activPAL-assessed wear time minus SB and MVPA. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) assessed sleep quality and insomnia severity, respectively. Isotemporal substitution analyses utilized linear regression to demonstrate the effects of replacing one movement behavior (short-bout SB, long-bout SB, LPA, MVPA) with an equivalent amount of another movement behavior on sleep. All analyses adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and device wear time. Results: On average, participants spent 4.7±1.3 h/day in short-bout SB, 6.3±2.2 h/day in long-bout SB, 4.3±1.6 h/day in LPA, and 37.3±21.8 min/day in MVPA. Mean PSQI and ISI scores were 5.5±3.0 and 7.2±4.8, respectively; 42.4% had poor sleep quality (PSQI>5) and 40.6% had at least mild-severity insomnia (ISI≥8). Reallocating time from short-bout SB to MVPA was significantly associated with better sleep quality (-0.73±0.37 unit change in PSQI score per 30-min reallocation [P=.05]); reallocations from long-bout SB or LPA to MVPA trended toward significantly better sleep quality (P=.08 and P=.09, respectively). Reallocating time from SB or LPA to MVPA was not significantly associated with lower insomnia severity (each P>.16). Conclusions: Increasing moderate-vigorous physical activity at the expense of sedentary behavior or light-intensity physical activity was associated with better sleep quality, though the strengths of these associations were mild at best. Support: NIH R01 HL134809, R01 HL147610.

Characteristics of Users of a Digital Hypnotherapy Intervention for Hot Flashes: Retrospective Study.

Hot flashes are associated with a lower quality of life and sleep disturbances. Given the many consequences of hot flashes, it is important to find treatments to reduce them. Hypnotherapy, the use of hypnosis for a medical disorder or concern, has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in reducing hot flashes, but it is not routinely used in clinical practice. One solution to close this implementation gap is to administer hypnotherapy for hot flashes via a smartphone app. Evia is a smartphone app that delivers hypnotherapy for hot flashes. Evia has made hypnotherapy more widely accessible for women who are experiencing hot flashes; however, the app has yet to undergo empirical testing. Additionally, research on user characteristics is lacking. This study aims to (1) determine the average age, stage of menopause, and length of menopause symptoms for users of the Evia app; (2) determine the characteristics of hot flashes and night sweats for users of the Evia app; (3) determine the self-reported sleep quality of users of the Evia app; (4) determine the self-reported mental health of users of the Evia app; and (5) determine the relationship between hot flash frequency and anxiety and depression for users of the Evia app. This study analyzed data collected from participants who have downloaded the Evia app. Data were collected at 1 time point from a self-report questionnaire that assessed the demographic and clinical characteristics of users. The questionnaire was given to users when they downloaded the Evia app. Users of the Evia app fill out a questionnaire upon enrolling in the program and prior to beginning the intervention. This included 9764 users. Results showed that the mean age of users was 49.31 years. A total of 41.6% (1942/4665) of users reported experiencing 5 or more hot flashes per day, while 51.2% (1473/2877) of users reported having difficulty falling asleep each night and 47.7% (1253/2626) of users reported their sleep quality to be terrible. In addition, 38.4% (1104/2877) of users reported that they often feel anxious or depressed. There was a small, significant, and negative correlation between hot flash frequency and self-report frequency of anxiety and depression (r=-0.09). This study showed that the average age of app users is in line with the median age of natural menopause. A large percentage of users reported experiencing 5 or more hot flashes per day, reported difficulties with sleep, and reported experiencing depression and anxiety. These findings are in line with previous studies that assessed hot flash frequency and the consequences of hot flashes. This was the first study to report on the characteristics of users of the Evia app. Results will be used to optimize the hypnotherapy program delivered via the Evia app.

Nightly Sleep Predicts Next-Morning Expectations for Stress and Positive Experiences.

Abundant research has linked nightly sleep as an antecedent of daily psychosocial experiences; however, less is known about sleep's influence on daily expectations of these experiences. Therefore, this research examined the day-to-day associations of sleep quality, duration, and efficiency with next-day expectations for stress(ors) and positive experiences, as well as whether these expectations were related to end-of-day reports of physical symptoms. In Study 1, U.S. adults ( n = 354; ages 19 to 74) completed twice-daily diaries for 10 weekdays about sleep, expectations for encountering daily stressors and positive events, and physical symptoms. In Study 2, adults in Canada ( n = 246; ages 25 to 87) wore a sleep watch for 14 consecutive days and completed mobile surveys 5×/day about sleep, stressfulness and pleasantness expectations, and physical symptoms. Multilevel models indicated that self-reported sleep quality and duration, but not efficiency, were associated with lower next-day expectations for stressors (Study 1) and stressfulness (Study 2). Self-reported sleep quality (Study 1) and all sleep indices (Study 2) predicted greater next-day expectations for positive events and pleasantness, respectively. For actigraphy-assessed sleep (Study 2), only longer-than-usual actigraphic sleep duration was associated with lower stressfulness expectations, whereas both sleep duration and efficiency were positively linked with daily pleasantness expectations. Only pleasantness expectations (Study 2)-but not daily stressfulness and event expectations (Study 1)-predicted end-of-day physical symptoms. Findings suggest the importance of sleep on expectations of next-day stress and positive experiences, of which may have implications for daily physical health.

Objective sleep quality predicts subjective sleep ratings

In both clinical and observational studies, sleep quality is usually assessed by subjective self-report. The literature is mixed about how accurately these self-reports track objectively (e.g. via polysomnography) assessed sleep quality, with frequent reports of little to no association. However, previous research on this question focused on between-subject designs, which may be confounded by trait-level variables. In the current study, we used the novel Budapest Sleep, Experiences and Traits Study (BSETS) dataset to investigate if within-subject differences in subjectively reported sleep quality are related to sleep macrostructure and quantitative EEG variables assessed using a mobile EEG headband. We found clear evidence that self-reported sleep quality in the morning is influenced by within-subject variations in sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency. These effects were replicated if detailed sleep composition metrics (percentage and latency of specific vigilance states) or two alternative measures of subjective sleep quality were used instead. We found no effect of the number of awakenings or relative EEG delta and sigma power. Between-subject effects (relationships between individual mean values of sleep metrics and subjective sleep quality) were also found, highlighting that analyses focusing only on these may be erroneous. Our findings show that while previous investigations of this issue may have been confounded by between-subject effects, objective sleep quality is indeed reflected in subjective sleep ratings.

Objective and Subjective Intraindividual Variability in Sleep: Predisposing Factors and Health Consequences.

We investigated the factors that predispose or precipitate greater intraindividual variability (IIV) in sleep. We further examined the potential consequences of IIV on overall sleep quality and health outcomes, including whether these relationships were found in both self-reported and actigraphy-measured sleep IIV. In Study 1, 699 US adults completed a Sleep Intra-Individual Variability Questionnaire and self-reported psychosocial, sleep quality, and health outcomes. In Study 2, 100 university students wore actigraphy and completed psychosocial, sleep, and health surveys at multiple timepoints. In cross-sectional analyses that controlled for mean sleep duration, predisposing/precipitating factors to greater IIV were being an underrepresented racial/ethnic minority (Study 1: F = 13.95, p < .001; Study 2: F = 7.03, p = .009), having greater stress (Study 2: r values ≥ 0.32, p values ≤ .002) or trait vulnerability to stress (Study 1: r values ≥ 0.15, p values < .001), and showing poorer time management (Study 1: r values ≤ -0.12, p values ≤ .004; Study 2: r values ≤ -0.23, p values ≤ .028). In addition, both studies showed that greater sleep IIV was associated with decreased overall sleep quality, independent of mean sleep duration (Study 1: r values ≥ 0.20, p values < .001; Study 2: r values ≥ 0.33, p values ≤ .001). Concordance across subjective and objective IIV measures was modest ( r values = 0.09-0.35) and similar to concordance observed for subjective-objective mean sleep duration measures. Risk for irregular sleep patterns is increased in specific demographic groups and may be precipitated by, or contribute to, higher stress and time management inefficiencies. Irregular sleep may lead to poor sleep quality and adverse health outcomes, independent of mean sleep duration, underscoring the importance of addressing sleep consistency.

Financial Hardship and Sleep Quality Among Black American Women With and Without Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

To compare dimensions of financial hardship and self-reported sleep quality among Black women with versus without systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Participants were 402 Black women (50% with validated diagnosis of SLE) living in Georgia between 2017 and 2020. Black women with SLE were recruited from a population-based cohort established in Atlanta, and Black women without SLE were recruited to be of comparable age and from the same geographic areas as SLE women. Financial hardship was measured using three different scales: financial adjustments, financial setbacks, and financial strain. Sleep was assessed continuously using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Each dimension of financial hardship was analyzed separately in SLE-stratified multivariable linear regression models and adjusted by sociodemographic and health status factors. Dimensions of financial hardship were similarly distributed across the two groups. Sleep quality was worse in Black women with, versus without, SLE (p < .001). Among Black women with SLE, financial adjustment was positively associated with a 0.40-unit increase in poor sleep quality (95% CI = 0.12-0.67, p = .005). When accounting for cognitive depressive symptoms, financial setbacks and strain were somewhat attenuated for Black women with SLE. Overall, no associations between financial hardships and sleep quality were observed for the women without SLE. Black women with SLE who experience financial hardships may be more at risk for poor sleep quality than Black women without SLE. Economic interventions targeting this population may help improve their overall health and quality of life.

Sleep and Caregiver Burden Among Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review.

Caregivers of persons with dementia report worse sleep when compared to the general population. The objective of this review was to synthesize evidence regarding the link between caregiver burden and dementia caregivers' sleep. We conducted a scoping review using a systematic search for pertinent literature in PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science through March 2022. Keywords included content areas of dementia, caregiver burden, and sleep. Inclusion criteria were informal caregivers of persons living with dementia, a measured relationship between informal dementia caregiver sleep and subjective caregiver burden variables, and original research. Non-English studies were excluded. Extracted data were organized in tables, compared, and synthesized. The search yielded 540 nonduplicate articles screened by title and abstract; 118 full-text articles were reviewed; 24 were included. Most studies were cross-sectional, with variable sample sizes. Dementia caregivers had significantly poorer overall perceived sleep than noncaregivers across 4 studies that examined self-reported sleep measures. Eighteen studies investigated the association between caregiver burden and self-reported sleep quality, with 14 reporting a significant positive association between caregiver burden and self-reported sleep quality, and 4 finding null results. Only 2 of the 4 studies reporting the association between caregiver burden and objective sleep parameters (ie, actigraphy and polysomnography) reported a significant positive association for at least one sleep subdomain. Although subjective sleep quality is commonly affected by dementia caregiving burden, there is a lack of corresponding evidence on the relationship between burden and objective sleep metrics. Healthcare providers should consider the dementia caregiver burden's impact on sleep and regularly assess caregivers' sleep difficulties. Future studies should focus on consistently measuring caregiver burden and sleep to promote dementia caregiver health and well-being.

Efficacy of supervised exercise on sleep of women who survived breast cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

To analyze the efficacy of supervised exercise (SE) compared with control protocols on sleep parameters of women who survived breast cancer. This systematic review with meta-analysis searched studies using the following electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane Library, and EMBASE. The PEDro scale assessed the bias risk, and the study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO (no. CRD42023420894). Of 3,566 identified studies, 13 randomized clinical trials involving 847 women diagnosed with breast cancer were included. Interventions consisted of SE in an outpatient setting (62%) or combined protocols with supervised and home exercises. Most interventions (85%) used multicomponent protocols with aerobic and resistance exercises. Usual care and health education were the most reported controls. SE decreased the sleep disturbance score (- 31.61 [95% confidence interval = - 39.40 to - 23.83]) of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire and daytime dysfunction score (- 0.41 [95% confidence interval = - 0.73 to - 0.09]) of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Also, SE presented a tendency to improve the self-reported sleep quality score of the PSQI (p = 0.06). SE increased the subjective sleep quality and immobility time and decreased sleep disturbance and daytime dysfunction symptoms in women who survived breast cancer. Most SE protocols were multicomponent, with aerobic and resistance exercises ranging from moderate to high intensity. Supervised exercise may improve sleep quality and reduce symptoms of sleep disorders, contributing to survival outcomes.

Association between exposure to heavy metals in atmospheric particulate matter and sleep quality: A nationwide data linkage study

BackgroundRecent studies have demonstrated that long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) is associated with poor sleep quality. However, no studies have linked PM constituents, particularly heavy metals, to sleep quality. ObjectiveThis study investigated the association between exposure to heavy metals in PM and sleep quality. MethodsWe obtained nationwide data from the Korean Community Health Survey conducted in 2018 among adults aged 19–80 years. Sleep quality was evaluated using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI ≥5. One-year and three-month average concentrations of heavy metals (lead, manganese, cadmium, and aluminum) in PM with diameter ≤10 μm were obtained from nationwide air quality monitoring data and linked to the survey data based on individual district-level residential addresses. Logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for age, gender, education level, marital status, smoking status, alcohol consumption, history of hypertension, and history of diabetes mellitus. ResultsOf 32,050 participants, 17,082 (53.3%) reported poor sleep quality. Increases in log-transformed one-year average lead (odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.08−1.20), manganese (1.31; 1.25−1.37), cadmium (1.03; 1.00−1.05), and aluminum concentrations (1.17; 1.10−1.25) were associated with poor sleep quality. Increases in log-transformed three-month average manganese (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.09−1.17) and aluminum concentrations (1.28; 1.21−1.35) were associated with poor sleep quality. ConclusionWe showed for the first time that exposure to airborne lead, manganese, cadmium, and aluminum were associated with poor sleep quality. This study may be limited by self-reported sleep quality and district-level exposure data.

Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Quality Mediate the Relationship Between Race and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure: A Serial Multiple Mediator Model.

Black patients with heart failure (HF) report worse quality of life (QoL) than White patients. Few investigators have examined mediators of the association between race and QoL, but depressive symptoms and sleep quality are associated with QoL. The aim of this study was to determine whether depressive symptoms and sleep quality are mediators of the relationship between race and QoL among patients with HF. This was a cross-sectional study. We included 271 outpatients with HF. Self-reported race (White/Black), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and QoL (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire) were collected at baseline. A serial multiple mediator analysis was conducted using the PROCESS macro for SPSS. Ninety-six patients (35.4%) were Black. Black participants reported higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality than White participants. Race was not directly associated with QoL but indirectly associated with QoL through depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality. Because of higher levels of depressive symptoms and poorer sleep quality, Black participants reported poorer QoL than White participants. Depressive symptoms and sleep quality together mediated the relationship between race and QoL. These findings suggest that screening for depressive symptoms and sleep quality could identify patients at risk for poor QoL, especially in Black patients.

Gradual improvement in functioning and mental distress during long-term outpatient SUD treatment – A prospective pre-post study

BackgroundGlobally, outpatient programs for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment have gained prominence. To assess the broader clinical implications of this trend we investigated shifts in functioning experienced by outpatients undergoing treatment. MethodsWe describe the clinical characteristics of a cohort of 93 SUD patients in a Norwegian outpatient treatment clinic. Using paired-samples t-tests, we examined changes in perceived functioning, mental distress, and other clinically relevant outcome variables in a 5-month time interval during the treatment course. ResultsWe obtained follow-up data for 67 (72%) of the included patients, with no significant difference in patient-related factors between those who completed the treatment course and those who were not assessed at follow-up. Perceived functioning increased significantly from study inclusion (Time 0) (mean 19.8, standard deviation ± 8.8) to its conclusion (Time 1) (24.3, ±9.3; t (66) = 4.5, (95% CI: 2.5–6.5, p < 0.001). We also identified significant improvement in most other measured variables, including mental distress, self-reported sleep quality, restlessness, and obsessive thinking. Substance use–related variables showed a modest, non-significant improvement at T1. ConclusionDuring a 5-month course of outpatient treatment, patients’ subjective experience of functioning improved significantly. Those with the lowest functioning levels at T0 improved the most. Structured monitoring may be a valuable clinical tool for personalizing intervention, enhancing treatment outcomes, and supporting the clinical decision-making process.

Sleep quality and executive function in a diverse sample of healthy young adults

Few studies examine the relationship between sleep and executive function in diverse samples of young adults. Our research aims to fill this gap by analyzing how self-reported sleep quality is related to informant-rated executive function as a whole and its working memory component in a diverse sample of 29 healthy college students. Using the self-report measure, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), we divided our sample into two groups based on cutoff criteria (score ≥5: poor sleep): good sleep quality (n = 11) and poor sleep quality (n = 18). Participants were on average 20.86 years old. Informants rated participants’ executive functioning and working memory using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Individuals in the poor sleep quality group were reported as having significantly worse executive function and working memory scores. Young adult college students who report less than 7 hours of sleep per night have lower scores on informant measures of working memory and executive function. This study raises awareness about how self-reported sleep experiences are related to other’s observation of cognitive abilities in everyday life in a diverse young adult sample.

Association of sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times among Emirati working women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Although a significant lack of physical activity has been linked to an increase in obesity among Emirati women, the factors associated with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times in Emirati women remain unclear. To explore the association of accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times with sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors among Emirati working women. A cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 163 healthy working Emirati women aged 18-45 years was used. Sedentary and physical activity times were measured using the Fibion accelerometers worn on the thighs for 4-7 days. General demographic information, anthropometric measurements, and self-reported sleep quality (Pittsburgh sleep quality index score) were collected. Only participants who had valid data (i.e. wear time of ⩾600 min (10 h) per day for a minimum of 4-7 days) were evaluated. All values were normalized to a 16-h day to mitigate differences in wear time among the participants. Overall, 110 Emirati women were included. The mean sitting time per 16-h day was 11.6 ± 1.1 h; mean moderate activity time per day, 40.88 ± 17.99 min; and mean vigorous activity time per day, 2.41 ± 1.21 min. Longer sitting time was associated with high body fat, secondary education, and divorce. Sitting time was reduced in those with good sleep quality. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity time was increased in women with postgraduate education and was decreased in women with a longer work experience and with comorbidities. The total activity time increased with increasing age and good sleep quality, whereas it decreased with increasing body fat, presence of at least one comorbidity, secondary education, and divorce. Certain demographic, anthropometric, and sleep quality factors were associated with accelerometer-measured sitting and physical activity times among Emirati working women. Future longitudinal studies should consider these factors when investigating predictors of physical activity levels in this population.

Association Between Sleeping Quality and Risk of Breast Cancer Among Women: A Case-Control Study From Pakistan.

This case-control study investigated the relationship between sleep duration and quality with the occurrence of breast cancer among women, both pre- and post-menopausal, in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) region of Pakistan. This case-control research was carried in multiple tertiary care facilities. Newly diagnosed primary breast cancer patients were recruited as cases (n = 408), and 5+years age-matched controls (n = 408) were randomly selected from the general population. Participants completed a Pittsburg sleeping quality index (PSQI) questionnaire that included questions on sleep characteristics. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests to compare mean sleep durations and quality scores between groups, and logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders. Sleep onset latency between cases and controls was not significantly associated with health outcomes, with a P-value of .142. However, sleep duration showed a significant association (P = .049). For sleep duration, the adjusted odds ratio for ≤6h was 1.02 (95% CI: .5-2.1), while for 7-8h the adjusted odds ratio was 1.0 (95% CI: .6-1.6). Self-reported sleep quality did not demonstrate significant associations, with the P-value for "very good" sleep quality being .561. Sleep duration of less than 6h among women with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was found to be strongly associated with a more aggressive type of breast cancer, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.5 (95% CI: 1.02-2.3, P < .05). This study does not provide evidence to support an association between sleep duration or quality and the risk of breast cancer. However, it reports a significant association, with shorter sleep durations linked to an increased risk particularly in the context of aggressive breast cancer types such as TNBC.

Sleep quality and falls in middle-aged and older adults: ELSI-Brazil study.

To verify the association between low self-reported sleep quality (LSQ) and fall in middle-aged and older adults every half-decade of life. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the first wave (2015-2016) of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil), which is nationally representative. The sample consisted of 8,950 participants who were allocated into eight age groups: 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and ≥ 85 years. The questionnaires used included self-reported sleep quality and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short version. Fisher's exact test followed by binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the odds ratio of sleep quality for fall occurrence, controlled for confounding variables. Individuals aged 50-105 years (63.6 ± 10.2 years), 57.0% females and 43.0% males, participated in this study. Overall, 21.5% of participants experienced at least one fall. The relative frequency of participants classified as having high or LSQ remained constant across each half-decade of life. The LSQ exhibited a statistically significant OR (p < 0.05) for falls across age groups up to 84, even after accounting for confounding variables. LSQ is significantly associated with an increased occurrence of fall in adults aged >50 years, but not for ≥ 85 years regardless of sex and physical activity level.

Volume of the Dentate Gyrus/CA4 Hippocampal subfield mediates the interplay between sleep quality and depressive symptoms

BackgroundEmerging evidence increasingly suggests that poor sleep quality is associated with depressive symptoms. The hippocampus might play a crucial role in the interplay between sleep disturbance and depressive symptomatology, e.g., hippocampal atrophy is typically seen in both insomnia disorder and depression. Thus, examining the role of hippocampal volume in the interplay between poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms in large healthy populations is vital. MethodsWe investigated the association between self-reported sleep quality, depressive symptoms, and hippocampal total and subfields’ volumes in 1603 healthy young adults from the Behavioral Brain Research Project. Mediation analysis explored the mediating role of hippocampal volumes between sleep quality and depressive symptoms. ResultsSelf-reported sleep quality and depressive symptoms were positively correlated. In addition, it negatively related to three hippocampal subfields but not total hippocampal volume. In particular, hippocampal subfield DG and CA4 volumes mediated the interrelationship between poor sleep quality and depressive symptoms. ConclusionsOur findings improved the current understanding of the relationship between sleep disturbance, depressive symptomatology, and hippocampal subfields in healthy populations. Considering the crucial role of DG in hippocampal neurogenesis, our results suggest that poor sleep quality may contribute to depression through a reduction of DG volume leading to impaired neurogenesis which is crucial for the regulation of mood.

Experimental Study of the Effects of Siestas on the Nocturnal Sleep Quality and Thermal Comfort Levels under Thermoneutral Environment in Summer

It has been determined that siestas could potentially have both mental and physical influences on the human body. However, the effects of siestas on the nocturnal sleep quality and thermal comfort levels under thermoneutral environment had not yet been examined in detail. In order to explore the potential influences of siestas on nocturnal sleep, twenty subjects were recruited and divided into two groups based on whether they took siestas or not. During this study's experiment, the temperature was maintained at 25°C, and sleep duration was recorded throughout the night. In addition, thermal comfort votes (TCV) and thermal satisfaction votes (TSV) were obtained both before and after the nocturnal sleep. Furthermore, dopamine (DA) levels, which played important roles in emotional regulation, were measured after the nocturnal sleep. Results showed that the siesta group had a significant increase in self-reported nocturnal sleep quality (p < 0.05), although slight decreases in slow-wave sleep (SWS) duration and rapid eye movement (REM) duration were observed. Additionally, higher TCV and TSV values were reported in the siesta group (p < 0.05). Higher DA concentration was also detected in the siesta group after the nocturnal sleep. Furthermore, some correlations were illustrated between the thermal voting values and the sleep duration, as well as the DA concentration levels. Results implied that siestas could have an influence on the nocturnal sleep quality and thermal comfort levels under thermoneutral environment. Besides, DA concentration levels played an important role in the thermal comfort evaluations when exploring the influences of siestas on nocturnal sleep.

Associations between food insecurity and Sleep Duration, Quality, and Disturbance among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries.

Although food insecurity has been associated with poor sleep outcomes in young and middle-aged adults, few studies have examined this relationship in older adults. This study aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity and sleep duration, quality, and disturbance among older adults in six low-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data from 33,460 adults (≥50 years) from the Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE). Food insecurity (FI) was assessed using two questions regarding the frequency of eating less and hunger caused by a lack of food. Sleep outcomes included self-reported sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep disturbances (difficulty falling asleep, frequent sleep interruptions, and early awakening) assessed based on self-reports over two nights. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess country-specific relationships between food insecurity and sleep outcomes, and random-effects models were used to estimate pooled associations. The prevalence of FI among older adults in the overall population was 16.2%. In pooled analyses, FI was significantly associated with long sleep duration ≥ 9 h (OR=1.58, 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.93; P=0.001). There were also significant pooled associations between FI and poor sleep quality (OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.56; P < 0.001) and sleep disturbances (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.91; P = 0.014). In conclusion, the current study found that FI is adversely associated with sleep duration, quality and disturbances in older adults, with some heterogeneity by country. The findings suggest food policies and intervention programs are needed for vulnerable households.

Changes in sleep, physical activity, and health behaviors among Nigerian fasting adults in Ramadan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is limited data on sleep, physical activity, and health-related behaviors among the general public during Ramadan, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with sleep and physical activity changes among Nigerian Muslims during Ramadan fasting. A nationwide web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among Nigerians aged ≥18 years who performed diurnal fasting during Ramadan. The target sample size was obtained using Fisher's formula, and snowball sampling was employed. Adapted versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form and Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II were used to evaluate sleep and physical activity. Correlates of change in physical activity and sleep quality were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Seven hundred and seventy individuals participated in the study. During Ramadan, 39.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 35.6%-42.6%) reported decreased physical activity, and 56.6% (95% CI; 53.0%-60.2%) stated having self-reported good sleep. The independent correlates of physical activity were female sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.8), having very good sleep (aOR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7), and obesity (aOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.7). In addition, factors associated with improved self-reported sleep quality were perceived good health state (aOR: 8.8, 95% CI: 1.1-72.4), sleeping 7-9 h per day (aOR: 5.5, 95% CI: 2.6-10.3), and sleeping for over 9 h per day (aOR: 4.6, 95% CI: 2.1-14.1). Although physical activity decreased by about a third, over half of the respondents lost weight and slept well during Ramadan. Strategies to include intermittent fasting in positive lifestyle changes could improve the health and well-being of the population.

The efficacy of occlusal appliance with a moisturizing gel pocket on sleep quality in patients with nocturnal xerostomia: A case series.

A case series of five patients (mean age, 77.0 years) with complaints of nocturnal xerostomia were subjected to occlusal appliance treatment with a reservoir of moisturizing gel during the night. An occlusal appliance covers the dental arch and hard palate, providing space in the midline of the hard palate to hold the moisturizing gel. Sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and sleep quality was assessed using the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire (PSQI-J) before and after treatment. The total PSQI-J scores decreased in all patients after treatment. The ESS score, sleep time, and sleep efficiency improved or remained unchanged and none of the patients' symptoms worsened. This study demonstrated the efficacy of occlusal appliance treatment in patients with dry mouth in improving self-reported sleep quality. Patients included those with nocturnal xerostomia and poor sleep quality on the PSQI-J. Treatment with xerostomia resulted in improved sleep quality, as assessed by the decrease in PSQI-J scores. This case series suggests that sleep quality may be worse in patients with xerostomia, and that treatment for nocturnal xerostomia using occlusal appliances may improve sleep quality.