Sleep quality and its association with anxiety, stress, sleep-related beliefs and attitudes and postural control in young adults: a cross-sectional study

Tarushi Tanwar; Mosab Aldabbas; Iram Iram; Zubia Veqar

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2023-0184

Article

Sleep quality and its association with anxiety, stress, sleep-related beliefs and attitudes and postural control in young adults: a cross-sectional study

Tarushi Tanwar , Mosab Aldabbas , Iram Iram and Zubia Veqar

Published/Copyright: February 29, 2024

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From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 36 Issue 2

Abstract

Objectives

Adequate sleep is essential for young adults, as this age group primarily consists of students, job seekers, and working people constantly managing a hectic lifestyle. Poor quality of sleep, which is essential for physical and mental well-being in the short and long term, can result in impaired overall health. However, there exists a gap in the literature regarding the factors affecting sleep among young adults. Hence, the objective of this study was to find the prevalence of sleep-related parameters (sleep health, hygiene, and sleep-related beliefs and attitudes) and potential risk factors for sleep quality and to investigate the association between sleep and postural control in young adults.

Methods

This prospective, cross-sectional, analytical study included 181 young adults, 113 (62.43 %) females, and 68 (37.57 %) males, with a mean age of 23.82 ± 2.88 years. Sleep quality, health, beliefs, hygiene, stress, anxiety, and depression were assessed using questionnaires. Postural control was assessed using center of pressure (COP) indices.

Results

The overall prevalence of poor sleep quality was 79.01 % among young adults. Multiple linear regression showed that predictors explained 44 % of sleep quality variance (adjusted R square=0.44, f (12,168) = 20.91, p<0.05). Poor sleep-related beliefs and attitudes (95 % CI [0.037, 0.679], p=0.029), higher perceived stress (95 % CI [0.005, 0.219], p=0.039), higher anxiety severity (95 % CI [0.108, 0.526], p=0.003), and poor COP stability index A/P (95 % CI [4.986, 11.248], p=0.00) were found to be significant predictors of poor sleep quality.

Conclusions

High anxiety and stress, and poor dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep are predictors of poor sleep quality in young adults. These factors may significantly affect sleep quality and the experience of restful sleep among young adults. Also, poor sleep quality is associated with reduced postural control (decreased stability in the A/P direction). These findings are crucial for improving young adults’ overall health and well-being, as poor sleep is highly prevalent among this age group.

Keywords: sleep quality; postural balance; prevalence; young adult; anxiety; stress

Corresponding Authors: Dr. Zubia Veqar, Hony. Director and Professor, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi 110025, Delhi, India, Phone: +91 9958993486, E-mail: veqar.zubia@gmail.com; and Tarushi Tanwar, PhD Scholar, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi 110025, Delhi, India, Phone: +91 9873852543, E-mail: tarushitanwar@gmail.com

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the dedication and time commitment of all subjects who participated in this study.

Research ethics: Before its commencement, this study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) of Jamia Millia Islamia University (Proposal No.: 24/5/325/JMI/IEC/2021). The study was registered under the Clinical Trials Registry – India (Ref. No.: CTRI/2021/08/036063).
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Data availability: The data are not publicly available due to restrictions and their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

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Received: 2023-11-23

Accepted: 2024-02-09

Published Online: 2024-02-29

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2023-0184

Keywords for this article

sleep quality; postural balance; prevalence; young adult; anxiety; stress