Stress and sleep: impact of the main contributing factors to poor sleep experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction The COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) pandemic is associated with several stressful factors that can negatively affect peoples’ sleep quality and mental health. Objectives The aim of the current study was to prospectively identify decreased sleep quality and associated risk factors in general population during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a prospective, observational online study on a Romanian sample of 667 respondents aged >18 years. Sleep quality and quantity was evaluated with Athens Insomnia scale (AIS) and the main concerns associated with the pandemic context were evaluated through a multiple-choice question. Results The data collected identified important evidence regarding the prevalence and intensity of insomnia. The average score for AIS was 6.13 (cut-off point for was set at 8). However, it is worth noting that 179 respondents (26.8%) meet the criteria for insomnia. Of the 8 self-assessment items, daytime sleepiness was the criterion evaluated with the highest average score (1.01), all other items getting subunit values. A low quality of sleep was linearly related with fear of illness/death (p=0.053), fear of illness/death of close people (p=0.032), social isolation (p<0.001), economic impact (p=0.003), losing the job (p<0.001) and social stigma associated with COVID-19 infection (p=0.009). Conclusions More than a qurter of respondes scored above the threshold of 8 at the insomnia scale, while losing the job, social stigma associated with COVID-19 infection and social isolation are the main risk factors for a low quality and quantity of sleep. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• Sleep quality
• Insomnia
• Covid-19