Decrease in sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak

Abstract

Purpose The COVID-19 outbreak witnessed in the first months of 2020 has led to unprecedented changes in society's lifestyles. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of this unexpected context on sleep. Methods During the COVID-19 outbreak, we performed an online survey with individuals formerly recruited for validation of the Spanish version of the sleep questionnaire Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Efficiency, and Duration (SATED). In the current survey, we asked the participants to complete the previously answered questionnaires including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a modified version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the SATED questionnaire. We also assessed the mood by the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. Results The 71 participants were mostly women (75%) with a mean (± SD) age of 40.7 ± 11.9 years. Comparing the previous PSQI score to that during the COVID-19 outbreak, we observed worsening sleep quality (5.45 ± 3.14 to 6.18 ± 3.03 points, p = 0.035). In parallel, there was an increase in the negative mood (p = 0.002). Accordingly, the decrease in sleep quality was substantially correlated with negative mood (p < 0.001). There were no differences in the ESS or SATED. Conclusions The COVID-19 outbreak-associated events correlate with decreased sleep quality in association with an increase in negative mood. Considering the importance of sleep for a healthy life, and in particular for immune function, efforts should be made to improve awareness on this matter and to offer psychological assistance to affected individuals.

Sleep and Awakening Quality during COVID-19 Confinement: Complexity and Relevance for Health and Behavior

“…Both SQ and AQ are significantly associated with several factors. Like other studies, we found poor SQ and AQ in young adults [ 11 ], females [ 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 ], higher-education individuals [ 19 , 26 ], and healthcare workers (medical doctors (MDs) and nurses) [ 7 , 14 , 24 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]; however, civil status was not an influencing factor, except for AQ, and the oldest group had higher SQ and AQ levels. The differences in married people are in line with the data concerning the number of people living together; SQ was better for two persons while AQ was better for 1–4 persons.…”

“…The more affected groups were healthcare workers, mostly those working in frontline services [ 7 , 14 , 24 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], young people [ 11 ], older age [ 7 ], females [ 10 , 11 , 18 , 19 ], males performing highly demanding jobs [ 34 ], people suffering from death in the family [ 20 ], or those living in places with high COVID-19 prevalence [ 14 ].…”

Effects of mobility restrictions on mental health among young adults in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study

“…Our ndings regarding SQ are in line with those of others carried out in the context of the pandemic, indicating that con nement is associated with worse SQ (López-Moreno et al 2020;Barrea et al 2020). It is likely that forced con nement results in increased levels of stress/anxiety, as well inability to maintain a physically active lifestyle, which in turn are associates with poorer SQ (Barrea et al 2020;Targa et al 2020;Martínez-de-Quel et al 2021). The fact that women more often experienced poorer SQ is probably explained by the fact that women are more susceptible to suffer greater psychological burden than men under stressful of demanding situations (Sal et al 2020).…”

Using Slow-Paced Breathing to Foster Endurance, Well-Being, and Sleep Quality in Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…An array of recent studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has a detrimental impact on sleep quality, with low sleep quality leading to higher daily dysfunctions ( Cellini et al, 2020 ; Fu et al, 2020 ; Salehinejad et al, 2020 ; Targa et al, 2020 ). In general, the changes in social and work-related schedules as a result of COVID-19-related restrictions lead to alterations in sleep patterns and individuals’ circadian rhythms ( Targa et al, 2020 ), however, the effects of these changes in athletes specifically is still unknown. The cancelation or postponement of competitions, for instance the Olympic Games in Tokyo ( Olympic Games, 2020 ), may also impair professional athletes’ sleep quality due to the inherent uncertainty and disruption of medium- to long-term goals.…”