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Comment
. 2023 Jan-Feb:80:48-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.01.002. Epub 2023 Jan 6.

Sleep disturbance during COVID-19: Correlates and predictive ability for mental health symptomatology in a Canadian online sample

Sarah M Kowall  1 , Jordana L Sommer  2 , Kristin A Reynolds  3 , Natalie Mota  4 , Renée El-Gabalawy  5
Affiliations
Comment

Sleep disturbance during COVID-19: Correlates and predictive ability for mental health symptomatology in a Canadian online sample

Sarah M Kowall et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2023 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbance is associated with mental health symptomatology, but this impact is understudied during COVID-19. The aims of this study are to: 1) examine correlates of sleep disturbance, and 2) examine the longitudinal relationship between sleep disturbance and mental health symptoms 6 months later, during the pandemic.

Methods: Data were analyzed from COVID-19 Survey Canada conducted between May 2020 (T1) and November 2021 (T2) (n = 489). We examined COVID-related baseline correlates of sleep disturbance at T1, and used multivariable regressions to examine the relationship between T1 sleep disturbance and T2 post-traumatic stress (PTS), health anxiety, generalized anxiety, and depressive symptoms, controlling for baseline mental health symptoms and sociodemographics.

Results: Females, ages 30-49, and those with an annual household income <$50,000, showed a higher prevalence of clinically significant sleep disturbance. After adjustment, compared to those without sleep disturbance at baseline, those with sleep disturbance showed a significant increase in PTS symptoms at 6 months (b = 11.80, 95% CI = [8.21-15.38], p < 0.001).

Limitations: Results are not nationally representative. Data may be subject to response biases due to self-report methods and we are unable to determine causality.

Conclusion: Being able to predict adverse mental health implications of sleep disturbance will help clinicians be equipped to target future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as any future potential pandemics or traumas. This study emphasizes the importance of screening individuals for sleep disturbance.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Mental health; Post-traumatic stress; Sleep disturbance.

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Comment on

  • Sleep disturbance and psychiatric disorders.
    Freeman D, Sheaves B, Waite F, Harvey AG, Harrison PJ. Freeman D, et al. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Jul;7(7):628-637. doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30136-X. Lancet Psychiatry. 2020. PMID: 32563308 Review.

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