The relationship between sleep disorders and aggressive behaviour among schizophrenia patients in the community: A moderated mesomeric effect model

Abstract

Objective Sleep disorder is the most common complaint of patients with schizophrenia, which can not only lead to poor prognosis and low survival rate but also aggressive behaviour, posing a significant threat to social security and stability. The aim of this study is to explore the mediating role of depression in the relationship between sleep disorders and aggressive behaviour in people with schizophrenia living in the community, as well as the regulatory role of family intimacy and adaptability. These findings, in turn, may provide a theoretical basis and constructive suggestions for resolving the physical and mental health problems of these patients.Method A convenience sampling method was used to select schizophrenia patients from Pengzhou City, China, for follow-up, and a survey was conducted on the Questionnaire Star platform. The survey included questions about general demographic data and disease-related questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Modified Over Aggression Scale (MOAS) revised Chinese version, the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, Second Edition. FACES-II and SPSS 21.0 were used to organize and analyse the data.Results A total of 818 schizophrenia patients living in the community participated in the survey, and 785 valid questionnaires were ultimately collected for a response rate of 95.97%. The results of multivariate analysis indicate that gender, psychiatric medication use, outpatient follow-up, and sleep disorders are the factors influencing aggressive behaviour. Depression played a partial mediating role between sleep disorders and aggressive behaviour, and the indirect effect size value was 0.043 (57.33% of the total). Sleep disorders and family intimacy (β=-0.009, P < 0.01) and adaptability (β=-0.145, P < 0.001) can significantly predict depression.Conclusion 1. The incidence of aggressive behaviour and sleep disorders in patients with schizophrenia living in the community is low. 2. Depression plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between sleep disorders and aggressive behaviour. 3. Family intimacy and adaptability play a regulatory role between depression and sleep disorders.