Search Results (235)

Morningness-eveningness is usually assessed as either a trait or a state using either a morning–evening preference scale or sleep timing reported for free days, respectively. These assessments were implemented in numerous studies exploring the associations between morningness-eveningness and health, mood, and sleep problems. Evening types almost always had more problems than morning types. We examined these associations in university students with conflicting results of trait and state assessments of morningness-eveningness and tried to confirm their chronotype using a multidimensional chronotyping approach that recognizes four types other than morning and evening (lethargic, vigilant, napping, and afternoon). The conflicting trait and state assessments of morningness-eveningness were found in 141 of 1582 students. Multidimensional chronotyping supported morningness of morning types with late weekend sleep timing, and the associations with health, mood, and sleep problems resembled the associations of other morning types (i.e., these associations persisted despite late sleep timing). In contrast, evening types with early weekend sleep timing were more likely classified as lethargic or napping types rather than evening types. They did not resemble evening types in their associations with health, mood, and sleep problems (i.e., early sleep timing did not change these associations). Model-based simulations of the sleep–wake cycles of students with conflicting trait and state assessments suggested that their bedtimes cannot be solely determined by their biological clocks. On weekdays or weekends, mind-bedtime procrastination can lead to missing the bedtime signal from their biological clocks (i.e., self-deprivation of sleep or, in other words, voluntary prolongation of the wake phase of the sleep–wake cycle). Full article

This study aims to explore the associations between menstrual health, lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and coping strategies among female students at a Vietnamese medical university. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 884 female students across five academic majors. Data on demographics, menstrual patterns, biological characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping mechanisms were collected. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression to identify significant predictors of self-reported menstrual changes post university admission. Of the 884 participants, 49.8% reported menstrual changes after entering university. Among the lifestyle-related factors, increased daily electronic use (mean = 5.83 h) and later bedtimes (mean = 23:58) were associated with menstrual change (p < 0.01). Older age and higher academic year emerged as significant predictors of menstrual changes (p < 0.001). Additionally, students with blood groups A and B exhibited a higher risk compared to those with group O (p < 0.05), and Rh-positive status was also significantly associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.05). In terms of knowledge and coping practices, students who had premenstrual syndrome awareness since school were significantly less likely to report menstrual changes (p = 0.003). Although use of pain relief, particularly painkillers, correlated with higher reported pain severity, it was not directly linked to menstrual change. On the other hand, clinic consultations were positively associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.003), while students who relied on their mothers as counselors exhibited a protective association (p = 0.001). Menstrual health in university-aged women is influenced by a complex interplay of lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and menstrual knowledge. Early education and structured coping support may serve as protective factors. The findings call for targeted menstrual health programs in university settings. Full article

Worsening adolescent mental health is a significant social issue. Although dreams may reflect one’s mental state, few studies have focused on adolescents. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between dream content and mental health, specifically anxiety disorder and depressive symptoms, among Japanese adolescents. This cross-sectional study obtained data on gender, grade, age, lifestyle habits, weekday sleep duration, anxiety disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, and dreams from Japanese high school students. The data were analyzed via multiple logistic regression analyses. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms increased with the frequency of “rumination at bedtime”, “memory of dreams”, “emotional carryover”, and “awakening by frightening”, “unpleasant”, “film-like”, “fantastical”, and “recurring” dreams. However, this was not the case for “pleasant dreams”. Furthermore, “rumination at bedtime” (anxiety disorder symptoms: adjusted odds ratio: 10.60; 95% confidence interval: 5.92–18.97; depressive symptoms: 8.79, 5.58–13.87) and “unpleasant dreams” (anxiety disorder symptoms: 5.25, 2.86–9.64; depressive symptoms: 10.13, 5.57–18.44) exhibited particularly high odds ratios. “Rumination at bedtime” and “unpleasant dreams” may serve as early indicators of declining mental health. School- and parent-led interventions aimed at improving mental well-being may help prevent the progression or exacerbation of anxiety and depressive symptoms among adolescents. Full article

Emotional processes and sleep quality have become fundamental aspects of performance in Paralympic sports among elite and youth athletes. The objective of this study was to compare levels of depression, stress, anxiety, and sleep quality among youth and adult athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) belonging to the national CP Football team in Chile. A total of 10 adult and 12 youth national team athletes participated, completing the DASS-21, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaires. The athletes were competing in their respective categories at the 2024 Parapan American Games. A cross-sectional design was used to compare the parameters of depression, stress, anxiety, and sleep quality of youth and adult male athletes with CP of a national team selected to compete in a regional event. Significant differences were found where young athletes had lower levels of depression (χ² = 4.77, p = 0.02, OR = 11.0) and anxiety (χ² = 6.71, p = 0.01, OR = 16.5). Similar differences could be observed in favor of young athletes in sleep latency (p = 0.04; d = 0.34), bedtime (p = 0.02; d = 0.20), total hours of sleep (p = 0.04; d = 0.10), subjective sleep quality (p = 0.002; d = 0.56), and objective sleep quality (p < 0.001; d = 0.65). This study suggests that adult para-athletes from a national CP Football team exhibit higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to their youth counterparts. Additionally, objective and subjective measures show that adults experience poorer sleep quality. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions by psychological support teams, aiming to enhance athlete performance by promoting healthy habits that address these mental health challenges. Full article

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional construct that encompasses physical, emotional, psychological, and social domains, according to an individual’s perception. Studies have indicated that lifestyle-related factors, such as engaging in physical activity (PA), reducing screen time (ST), and maintaining adequate sleep duration, may contribute to improved HRQoL in adolescents. The present study aimed to examine the associations of the 24 h movement behaviors (PA, ST, and sleep duration) with physical and psychological well-being, and HRQoL in adolescents. This study included 746 adolescents of both sexes, aged 11 to 15 years, enrolled in public schools. Sleep duration was assessed through a specific question related to habitual bedtime and wake-up time. ST was evaluated using a question regarding the daily time spent using recreational electronic devices. PA was measured using accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X-BT). The KIDSCREEN questionnaire was used to assess physical and psychological well-being and HRQoL. Generalized linear models were used for statistical analysis. Significant associations were observed between meeting sleep duration recommendations and higher HRQoL scores (β = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08), as well as psychological well-being (β = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.11). Additionally, adherence to ST recommendations was significantly associated with higher physical well-being scores (β = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.14). Concerning the combination of adherence to guidelines, meeting both sleep duration and ST recommendations was significantly associated with higher HRQoL scores (β = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.15), physical well-being (β = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03–1.21), and psychological well-being (β = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01–1.18). The findings of this study highlight the importance of adhering to the 24 h movement guidelines, which may contribute to improved adolescent well-being. Full article

This study explored the impact of lifestyle habits and sensory processing patterns on sleep quality by analyzing body movements (BMs) during the first and last 3 h of sleep in toddlers. We collected cross-sectional data about sleep-related habits from 58 toddlers using a mobile application. Actigraphy measured BMs during nighttime sleep and 1 h before bedtime, as well as sleep latency, over 8 consecutive days. The Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile was used to assess the toddlers’ sensory processing patterns. The participants had a mean age of 22.0 ± 2.0 months. BMs were significantly lower during the first 3 h of sleep. Longer sleep latency was significantly associated with media use and higher activity levels before bedtime. Ending a nap earlier and consuming a substantial breakfast were correlated with lower BMs during the first 3 h of sleep. Auditory and oral sensory scores were positively correlated with BMs during the first 3 h of sleep. However, no specific factors related to lifestyle habits or sensory processing patterns were found to correlate with BMs during the last 3 h of sleep. Lifestyle habits and sensory processing patterns have a significant impact on toddlers’ sleep quality, emphasizing the importance of appropriate routines and environments. Full article

While morningness (a preference for rising earlier in the day) is associated with positive affect and life satisfaction, eveningness is correlated with negative emotionality, poor sleep, less self-control, and more procrastination. The current study investigated inter-relationships between morningness–eveningness; bedtime, academic, and exercise procrastination; mind wandering; sleep quality; self-control; and depressive symptoms. An online survey including questionnaire measures of these variables was completed by 306 university students (aged 18–51 years; mean = 20.36, SD = 4.001; 34 male). Morningness correlated with more self-control and better sleep quality—eveningness correlated with more bedtime, academic, and exercise procrastination; depressive symptoms; and mind wandering. All forms of procrastination negatively correlated with self-control and sleep quality, and positively correlated with depressive symptoms and mind wandering, although more strongly with spontaneous than deliberate mind wandering. Mediation effects were found—bedtime procrastination (BP) between eveningness and spontaneous mind wandering (MW); spontaneous MW between BP and sleep quality; sleep quality between BP and depressive symptoms; self-control between depressive symptoms and academic procrastination. A path model of these inter-relationships was developed. This study adds to a growing body of research indicating that interventions to reduce bedtime procrastination may bring about improvements in wellbeing and academic achievement. Full article

The psychobiological response to stress is known to be a key factor affecting health at any age, but especially in older adults. It involves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a hormonal circuit whose product is the activation of cortisol. We sought to explore the relationships leading to resilience to stress, as exemplified by the model of aging, stress, and resilience, in a sample of older adults at risk for mental health problems. Specifically, we examined the concurrent effects of individual age-related determinants, social support, and coping style on the cortisol awakening response (CAR), the cortisol area under the curve (AUC) with respect to ground, and the rate of change of cortisol from the awakening peak to bedtime. Our results showed an association between life impairment and health problems on the three indicators of HPA disturbance. An higher AUC was also observed in older age and in individuals reporting more major life events. Less use of avoidance coping was also associated with greater levels of CAR and AUC. Although significant, the measured determinant explained only a small part of the total interindividual variability in our three cortisol indices. Other factors, such as same-day stressors especially in older populations at risk for psychological distress, should be considered in future studies. Full article

Background/Objective: Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to adverse health effects and therefore represents a public health burden While caffeine is a widely used stimulant, the relationship between caffeine consumption and sleep remains uncertain. Moreover, many studies might be subject to methodological bias, as invasive sleep measurements may themselves serve as confounders. The aim of the SleepSmart study was to assess the impact of caffeine consumption through coffee and energy drinks, utilizing both smartwatch data and questionnaire responses. Methods: The SleepSmart study is an observational cohort study conducted at LMU Hospital Munich, Germany, from July 2024 to January 2025. The study investigated two intervention groups: (1) coffee and (2) energy drink consumption. Each intervention lasted 1 week, with days 1 to 3 serving as a reference period (water consumption to adjust for increased fluid intake) and days 4 to 6 serving as the intervention period (consumption of an equivalent of 240 mg of caffeine per day, 3 h before bedtime). Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires and wearable devices. The primary endpoint was sleep duration. Objective measures of sleep (duration of light/deep sleep, duration of wake phases, heart rate) and self-assed quality of sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) served as secondary endpoints. Results: For the primary endpoint, we did not find a significant difference in average sleep duration (baseline [hours] 6.7, coffee 6.9, energy drink 6.7, p-value 0.183). Similarly, secondary endpoints related to sleep measures showed no significant changes in the duration of light/deep sleep (coffee [min]: 242.2, reference coffee [ref_C] 255.7 I energy drink: 237.5, reference energy drink [ref_E] 261.3), time awake (coffee 22.7, ref_C 23.4 I energy drink 21.3, ref_E 18.9), time to fall asleep/wake up (coffee 4.2, ref_C 4.0 I energy drink 4.4, ref_E 2.7), or average heart rate (coffee [bpm] 62.2, ref_C 62.1 I energy drink 62.6, ref_E 62.3)—neither between the two intervention groups nor compared to the reference period. However, self-assessed sleep quality revealed a decrease in perceived sleep quality, with reports of poor sleep increasing by 8% after coffee consumption (rather bad/very bad sleeping quality: 29.7%) and 20% after energy drink consumption (46.6%), compared to baseline data (21.6%). Conclusions: The SleepSmart study introduces wearable sleep tracking as an innovative, low-interference method for objectively recording sleep data. While wearable data did not indicate significant sleep deterioration in the group of young, healthy adults, caffeine appeared to negatively impact the subjective perception of sleep in the study cohort. Full article

Sleep is a crucial physiological process for cognitive, emotional, and physical development during childhood. Despite its importance, a significant percentage of school-aged children experience sleep disturbances, which can impact academic performance and overall well-being. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate sleep habits and disorders in children aged 6–13 years, identifying issues such as difficulties falling asleep, frequent awakenings, and parasomnias, as well as their correlations with daytime consequences. Methods: A structured questionnaire, based on the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), was administered to 100 parents of school-aged children. The sample included participants without diagnosed neurological disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, or chronic illnesses interfering with sleep. The data were statistically analyzed to assess the frequency and severity of sleep disturbances and their correlations with daytime symptoms. Results: Although most children (44.1%) slept 8–9 h per night, 32.4% exhibited bedtime resistance, and 29.4% had difficulty falling asleep. Common sleep disturbances included occasional snoring (44.1%), bruxism (11.8%), morning fatigue (41.2%), and daytime sleepiness (15.2%). Additionally, 23.5% of the children experienced confusion upon waking. The analysis also revealed a correlation between sleep fragmentation and mood alterations or cognitive difficulties. Conclusions: The study confirms the high prevalence of sleep disorders in pediatric populations, emphasizing the need for routine screening during clinical check-ups. Educational interventions on sleep hygiene practices—such as reducing evening screen exposure—and school policies that align with pediatric circadian rhythms could mitigate negative effects. The lack of objective measures such as actigraphy and polysomnography is a limitation, highlighting the need for integrated approaches in future studies. A multidisciplinary approach is essential to optimizing sleep health and overall child development. Full article

Background: Antioxidants and prebiotics are popular functional foods known for their distinct physiological ameliorating benefits on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Whether and how a combined antioxidant-prebiotic supplement affects primary and secondary T2DM outcomes is not known. Objectives: We investigated the therapeutic effects of an antioxidant (anthocyanin from riceberry rice) combined with prebiotics (dietary fibre from rice bran and Jerusalem artichoke) on glucose control, lipid profile, oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiorespiratory fitness in T2DM patients. Methods: A total of 60 T2DM patients were randomly assigned to receive antioxidant/prebiotic (supplement group, SG) or maltodextrin (control group, CG), (two capsules (350 mg)/meal after three meals and before bedtime, 2.8 g/day), for 60 days. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and after 60 days intervention to assess blood metabolic variables (glucose, insulin, and lipid profiles, renal and liver functions, oxidative stress, inflammation). Nutrition status, anthropometry, body composition (DEXA) and cardiorespiratory fitness were also measured. Results: Analysis of co-variance showed superior effects on T2DM’s glucose and lipid profiles in the SG compared with the CG including reduced fasting blood glucose (p = 0.01 within-group effects, p = 0.03 interaction effects), reduced glycated haemoglobin (p = 0.004 within-group effects, p = 0.002 interaction), and reduced low density lipoprotein (p = 0.006 within-group effects, p = 0.02 interaction effects). No significant change was found within the CG for any of these parameters. Kidney function’s glomerular filtration rate was also improved in the SG (p = 0.01 within-group effects), but not in the placebo CG. Intermediatory biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiorespiratory fitness were not significantly affected in either group with no interaction effects. No adverse effects were detected following the 60-day supplementation intervention. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a combined anthocyanin-fibre may be promoted as an adjacent therapy in patients with T2DM, but the intermediary mechanisms of action require further research. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine sleep timing across the lifespan of Australian adults. A cross-sectional design was used to collect information on subjective sleep timing from 1225 participants (52.3% female) during a telephone interview. The participants were aged from 18 to over 80 and were grouped according to their age using 10-year increments (e.g., 18–29 y, 30–39 y, etc.). There was a diverse distribution across the lifespans, with the largest proportion of participants being from the 60–69 age group (22.8%). Participants were predominantly from New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. Younger adults reported going to bed later (p < 0.001) and waking up later than other age groups (p < 0.001). Wake times were earliest during middle adulthood (p < 0.001). There was no significant age effect on the minimum sleep required for good health (p = 0.159) and only a marginal decrease with age in the amount of sleep required to maintain a good mood (p = 0.041). In conclusion, these findings highlight significant variations in sleep timing across younger, middle-aged, and older Australian adults. The current findings could inform future Australian sleep health campaigns, in which the goal is to provide targeted strategies for age groups across their lifespans. Full article

Introduction/Aim: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) challenges glycemic control, with sleep disturbances affecting insulin sensitivity and glucose variability. This study aimed to observe sleep quality in T1D patients and glycemic outcomes, particularly at bedtime hours. Methods: This retrospective observational study, conducted at an Italian clinical center, included T1D patients using Medtronic devices. Sleep quality was assessed using the Italian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and glycemic outcomes were analyzed with CGM data. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were applied for statistical comparisons. Results: Of 45 patients, four were excluded, leaving 41 for analysis. The mean PSQI score was 6.0 ± 4.1, with 36.6% showing poor sleep quality. No significant differences in age, sex, BMI, or diabetes duration were found. Poor sleepers had a higher time above range level 2 (TAR2) (6.3 ± 6.2%) compared to good sleepers (4.1 ± 5.0%). During bedtime hours, poor sleepers showed a significantly higher TAR2 (6.7 ± 7.2% vs. 3.3 ± 6.2%, p = 0.013). Conclusions: Poor sleep quality is associated with increased nocturnal hyperglycemia in T1D patients. Enhancing sleep quality may contribute to improved glycemic control, particularly during nighttime. Future research should explore targeted sleep interventions in diabetes care, and specific lifestyle-based healthcare programs are recommended to optimize glycemic outcomes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Active gamification, which incorporates game elements with physical interaction, is presented as an innovative strategy to address anxiety problems and sleep quality in children. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an active gamification program on the aforementioned variables in children in primary education. Methods: This study utilized a randomized, controlled trial with 120 children between 8 and 11 years of age, divided into an experimental group, which participated in a 12-week gamified program, and a control group, which continued with traditional physical education classes. Results: The main findings indicate that the intervention had a significant impact on reducing anxiety, with improvements in most of the subscales evaluated except for the obsessive-compulsive disorder subscale. Significant improvements were also found in sleep quality, with reductions in bedtime resistance, nighttime awakenings, parasomnias, and sleep-disordered breathing, although no significant changes were noted in sleep-onset delay, sleep duration, sleep anxiety, and daytime sleepiness. Conclusions: The gamification intervention in physical exercise showed positive effects in reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in primary school children, highlighting its potential as an intervention strategy in primary education classrooms. Full article

Home confinement due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to lifestyle changes that increased sleep disturbances, particularly in areas with higher infection and mortality rates. This study is a retrospective study based on data collected through an online survey conducted during the COVID-19 confinement. It aims to analyze changes in sleep quantity and quality and their association with lifestyle changes in the metropolitan area of Mexico City. A total of 899 adults from this area completed an online questionnaire between June 2020 and February 2021. This study assessed sleep quantity, sleep quality, insomnia symptoms, and lifestyle changes during the confinement period. Results showed that sleep quantity increased (7.10 ± 1.37 vs. 7.43 ± 1.42 h, p < 0.0001), with more participants, especially young adults and women, reporting later bed and wake-up times. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index increased by 1.4 units, with poor sleep quality associated with lifestyle during confinement. Insomnia symptoms, sleep latency, and poor sleep quality also increased, particularly in women. Males and those without chronic comorbidities were less likely to experience poor sleep quality, while tobacco use and later bedtimes increased this risk. This study concludes that, while sleep quantity increased, sleep quality declined, particularly among young adults, women, and those with unhealthy lifestyles. These findings could guide sleep health initiatives tailored to specific lifestyle changes in different population groups. Full article