Nature and Science of Sleep (Jul 2021)

The Impact of Quarantine on Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • AlRasheed MM,
  • Alkadir AM,
  • Bin Shuqiran KI,
  • Al-Aqeel S,
  • Jahrami HA,
  • BaHammam AS

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 13
pp. 1037 – 1048

Abstract

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Maha M AlRasheed,1 Afnan M Alkadir,1 Khulood I Bin Shuqiran,1 Sinaa Al-Aqeel,1 Haitham A Jahrami,2,3 Ahmed S BaHammam4,5 1Clinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Ministry of Health, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain; 3College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain; 4University Sleep Disorders Centre, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5The Strategic Technologies Program of the National Plan for Sciences and Technology and Innovation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Maha M AlRasheedClinical Pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi ArabiaTel +96611 4678707Fax +966-11-4677480Email [email protected]: We investigated the impact of isolation on sleep quality and psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.Methods: An online survey was conducted on 353 (88 isolated and 265 not isolated) individuals from May to June 2020. Subjective sleep quality was determined using the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and psychological distress measured using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10).Results: The mean age of the isolated group was 28.6 years versus 27.5 years for the non-isolated group, with male participants accounting for 37% in both groups. The mean PSQI score was 8.5± 3.6 and 8.4± 3.5 for the isolated and non-isolated groups, respectively (P= 0.92). The mean K-10 score was 27.6± 9.4 and 25.3± 9.5 for the isolated and non-isolated groups, respectively (P= 0.04). Poor sleep (PSQI ≥ 6) was reported in 235 (66.6%) and psychological distress (K-10 ≥ 20) in 244 (69.1%) participants. Isolation was not associated with poor sleep (OR: 0.73 (95% CI: 0.41– 1.3), P=0.29), but was statistically significant with psychological distress (OR: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.10– 4.08), P=0.03).Conclusion: Poor sleep and psychological distress symptoms were highly prevalent in our study population. Isolation may influence psychological distress but not sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic.Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, pandemic, quarantine, sleep quality, psychological distress, self-isolation

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