Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with an increased risk of short sleep duration in adulthood. This study aims to explore the relationship between sexual orientation, ACEs and short sleep duration.

61,323 adults from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were included in this study. We measured sexual orientation, ACEs and short sleep duration with participants' self-report. Multivariate logistic regression analysing the effects of sexual orientation, ACEs and their interactions on short sleep duration.

More sexual minoritized individuals reported short sleep duration compared to heterosexual individuals (32.10 % for heterosexuals; 33.70 % for sexual minoritized individuals). More sexual minoritized individuals reported being exposed to >1 ACE (heterosexual = 62.8 %; sexual minoritized individuals = 82.2 %. P < 0.001) than heterosexuals, especially sexual minorities are about three times more likely than heterosexual to be sexually abused (heterosexual = 11.1 %; sexual minoritized individuals = 31.2 %, P < 0.001). More bisexual women reported sexual abuse than bisexual men (38.2 % for bisexual women; 22.6 % for bisexal men). Positive association between ACEs status and short sleep duration (OR:2.23, 95%CI: 1.36,3.65) was identified among sexual minoritized individuals. Those sexual minorities individuals who experienced sexual abuse in childhood, emotional abuse, and mental illness in the household had 1.72, 1.38, and 1.39 times the risk of having a short sleep duration in adulthood as compared to heterosexual household, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between sexual abuse and sexual orientation.

The cross-sectional design limited the ability to make causal inference.

This study shows that sexual abuse experiences suffered by sexual minority adults during childhood may lead to a higher risk of subsequent short sleep duration as well. Thus, the risk of short sleep duration in sexual minorities is reduced by reducing the occurrence of ACEs.

There are various occupational and industrial activities that are associated with the production of suspended particles. Little is known about sleep disturbance caused by exposure to aerosol exposure. Presented systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to investigate the impact of various aerosols during occupational exposure on sleep. A systematic search in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases was performed until 20 February 2024. Three sets of keywords and their possible combinations were used in the search algorithm. To evaluate the quality and risk of bias in studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools and risk of bias in non-randomized studies of exposure (ROBINS-E) instruments were applied, respectively. The pooled values were also computed by meta-analysis. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 23 articles were entered into the review. 9 out of 11 articles with high quality (81.82 percent), 8 out of 9 articles with moderate quality (88.89 percent), and 2 out of 3 articles with low quality (66.67 percent) indicated that aerosol exposure had a meaningful negative effect on sleep among workers in various occupations. Among articles, 69.6% (N = 16) were given a high risk of bias rating, 13.0% (N = 3) were rated as moderate risk of bias, and 17.4% (N = 4) were rated as low risk of bias. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the pooled value of the prevalence in the cross-sectional, cohort, and case control studies was 42.35 (95%CI [34.55, 50.16]), 10.82 (95%CI [6.76, 14.87]), and 35.70 (95%CI [13.96, 57.45]), respectively. Also, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled values of the odds ratio in the cross-sectional and cohort studies were 1.82 (95% CI [1.43, 2.21]) and 1.73 (95% CI [1.49, 1.96]), respectively. Totally, most studies indicated that various sources of occupational aerosol exposure significantly affected sleep among employees.

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) is a discrete component of the circadian cortisol profile. Evidence suggests that the CAR is a deviation from the pre-awakening increase in cortisol concentration, although this has yet to be replicated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to replicate this finding and to investigate further the extent to which the CAR is distinct from the circadian profile. Twelve participants completed 2 overnight visits in a sleep laboratory. An intravenous catheter was used to sample blood every 15 min. Participants were allowed to sleep ad libitum beginning at 2030 h, and blood sampling continued throughout the night until 1 h post-awakening, generating a total of 802 serum samples. Selected serum samples were assayed for cortisol, and piece-wise linear mixed-effect models tested the extent to which the increase in cortisol concentrations post-awakening deviated from the rise in cortisol concentrations from various pre-awakening periods. Results demonstrated that the CAR only significantly deviates from the pre-awakening rise when the pre-awakening linear rise is considered 4 (β = 1.79, 95% CI = 0.49-3.09, p = 0.007) or 5 (β = 1.79, 95% CI = 0.49-3.09, p = 0.007) h before waking. When including a non-linear change in cortisol during the 4-h pre-awakening period, the deviation from the diurnal profile for the CAR was no longer significant (β = 0.96, 95% CI = - 0.74-2.66, p = 0.266). These results partly agree and replicate previous evidence for the CAR being superimposed on the diurnal profile but continue to extend our teleological understanding of the functional role of the CAR.

Adverse childhood events and especially emotional abuse (EA) is consistently associated with poor psychiatric outcomes in adulthood, with depressive symptoms being one of the most prevalent. Both EA and depression are frequently associated with poorer sleep quality and cortical structural abnormalities. Interestingly, some individuals who experienced early-life EA are resilient against the development of psychiatric illness in adulthood and are believed to possess distinct neurobiology that confer more effective coping mechanisms.

682 subjects from a population-based cohort underwent polysomnography (PSG), whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Linear regressions were used to model joint EA and depressive symptoms effects with sleep macro-architecture and cortical thickness; and path analyses were used to investigate mediation effects.

Considering depressive symptoms as a product variable with EA (EA×depression), we observed the strongest effect in EA×depression with percentage spent in SWS (%SWS), where %SWS increased with EA in non-depressed subjects. We observed increased thicknesses in three cortical regions in emotionally-abused, non-depressed individuals from structural MRI. Mediation analysis demonstrated that %SWS significantly mediated the association of EA×depression with cortical thickness in two of the three regions.

We are not able to infer any causal role of sleep in our cross-sectional design. Self-report questionnaires are also subject to recall-bias.

Higher regional cortical thicknesses in emotionally-abused, non-depressed individuals can partially be explained by increased %SWS, suggesting a potentially protective role of SWS against brain volume loss associated with EA and depression.

Insomnia (difficulty falling or staying asleep) is a common issue among breast cancer survivors, significantly impacting their quality of life. Current treatments, primarily pharmacological and psychological, have limitations: the former often causes side effects, while the latter faces accessibility barriers. Long-snake moxibustion (LSM), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) technique, involves applying moxibustion along the governor vessel, which is an important meridian in TCM that plays a key role in regulating brain function. LSM is characterized by its minimal side effects, ease of application, and cost-effectiveness, with preliminary studies supporting its potential for treating insomnia. This study aims to further investigate the therapeutic effectiveness of LSM in alleviating insomnia among breast cancer survivors and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

This single-center, rater-masked, randomized controlled trial will enroll 100 breast cancer survivors with chronic insomnia, who will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the LSM group or a waitlist control group. During the 4-week treatment period, all participants will receive standard care, with the LSM group additionally receiving LSM treatment twice a week. The primary efficacy outcome is the change in Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score at the end of the intervention. Secondary outcomes include changes in hypnotic medication use, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS) scores, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) scores. Mechanistic evaluations will assess serum biochemical markers, gut microbiota composition, and metabolomic profiles.

If proven effective, this trial will provide critical clinical evidence supporting LSM as a viable and accessible treatment for insomnia among breast cancer survivors. The findings could influence clinical practice by offering a non-pharmacological treatment option, improving patient outcomes, and reducing dependence on pharmacological interventions. Furthermore, exploring the underlying mechanisms may enhance our understanding of how LSM works, paving the way for future research.

http://itmctr.ccebtcm.org.cn/, identifier ITMCTR2024000578.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic and disabling mental health condition characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry and persistent psychological and somatic tension. Affecting approximately 3-6 % of the global population, GAD significantly impairs daily functioning and often coexists with other psychiatric conditions. Among its many symptoms, sleep disturbances-particularly insomnia-are among the most frequently reported and debilitating. Individuals with GAD commonly experience difficulties with sleep initiation, maintenance, and restorative rest, making insomnia one of the most pervasive features of the disorder. Emerging research highlights a bidirectional relationship between GAD and insomnia: while anxiety contributes to cognitive and physiological arousal that interferes with sleep, insomnia in turn exacerbates emotional dysregulation, amplifies worry, and may even precede the development of anxiety disorders. Neurobiological and neuroimaging studies support this reciprocal link, showing shared dysfunctions such as heightened hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, increased amygdala reactivity, reduced prefrontal cortical control, and GABAergic deficits. These overlapping mechanisms underscore a common pathophysiological substrate that reinforces both conditions. Recognizing and addressing this interplay is critical, as untreated insomnia may perpetuate or intensify GAD symptoms. Notably, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been effective in improving sleep and reducing anxiety severity-even without directly targeting anxiety-supporting a shift toward integrating sleep-focused interventions in the treatment of GAD. This review aimed to elucidate clinical and neurobiological evidence on the bidirectional link between insomnia and GAD, emphasizing shared mechanisms and treatment implications.

Immigrants face unique challenges and stressors before leaving their country of origin and upon arrival to their host country, all of which may impair their sleep health. We synthesized the literature on pre-and-post migration factors predicting sleep outcomes among foreign-born Latin American immigrants to the United States. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched three electronic databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. We supplemented our search using Google Scholar and by manually reviewing reference lists from all included studies and four reviews on similar topics. Out of 2581 references screened, 12 peer-reviewed studies met our inclusion criteria. All studies but one were quantitative. Most were cross-sectional, consisted of adults, relied on self-reported measures of sleep, and had a low risk of bias. Acculturation stress, perceived discrimination and racism, working multiple jobs, as well as poor physical and mental health were the most consistent predictors of poorer sleep health in this population. Being born in Mexico and greater biculturalism were predictors of better sleep health. We discuss gaps in the literature, highlight opportunities for future research, and argue for a more comprehensive examination of how pre-migration experiences impact post-migration sleep health.

Sleep deprivation can decrease parental well-being and degrade mental and physical health in parents of children with chronic illness. The aim of this study was to explore the associations of sleep quality, psychological stress perception, and evening salivary cortisol concentration with self-esteem, optimism and happiness in parents of children with type 1 diabetes and developmental disorders compared to parents of healthy, typically developing children.

We studied 196 parents of children with chronic conditions, including autistic spectrum disorder (N = 33), cerebral palsy (N = 18), Down syndrome (N = 33), and diabetes mellitus type 1 (N = 40) and parents of healthy children (N = 72). We evaluated parental sleep quality, evening salivary cortisol levels, self-esteem, optimism and happiness. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between variables.

Compared with those of the control group, the parents of children with autistic spectrum disorders had higher evening cortisol concentrations (β = 0.17; p = 0.038) and lower perceptions of happiness (β=-0.17; p = 0.017), while parents of children with type 1 diabetes had disrupted sleep quality (β = 0.25; p = 0.003). Optimism was negatively associated with the evening cortisol concentration (β=-0.18; p = 0.023) and sleep quality index (β=-0.20; p = 0.012).

Public health programs aimed at lifestyle habit improvement, respite care, and relaxation for parents of children with chronic conditions would be useful for improving parental sleep quality, self-esteem, optimism and happiness.

The correlation between depressive symptoms and internet addiction in adolescents is strengthened, and childhood trauma is an important predictor of internet addiction. However, the mechanism of childhood trauma on internet addiction in adolescents with depression remains unclear. This study investigates the current status and factors influencing internet addiction in adolescents with depression and further examines whether insomnia and alexithymia mediate childhood trauma and internet addiction in adolescents with depression.

This study investigated 300 adolescent patients in 7 hospitals in Anhui province. General demographic characteristics such as age and gender were collected. The clinical characteristics of the patients were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF), Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). PROCESS (Model 4) was used to examine the mediating effects of insomnia and alexithymia.

The prevalence of internet addiction among adolescents with depression was 50.2%. There were statistically significant differences between the internet addiction group and the non-internet addiction group in terms of relationships with classmates, relationships with teachers, family relations, and economic status. The total score of CTQ and its five subscale scores were significantly and positively correlated with the total score of IAT. Insomnia and externally oriented thinking (EOT) played a significant mediating role in the effect of physical neglect (PN) on internet addiction.

Insomnia and alexithymia play a significant mediating role between childhood trauma and internet addiction in adolescents with depression, which expand the existing understanding of internet addiction in adolescents with depression, and provide some theoretical references to address the problem of internet addiction in adolescents with depression and prevent the development of adolescent depression.

To determine the prospective associations between sleep disturbance and binge-eating disorder and behaviors in a national sample of early adolescents in the United States (US).

We analyzed prospective cohort data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 9428). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the associations between several sleep variables (e.g., overall sleep disturbance, disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep [insomnia], duration; Year 2) and binge-eating disorder and behaviors (Year 3), adjusting for sociodemographic Year 2 binge-eating covariates.

Overall sleep disturbance was prospectively associated with higher odds of binge-eating disorder (OR = 3.62, 95% CI 1.87-6.98) and binge-eating behaviors (OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.17-2.16) 1 year later. Disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep were prospectively associated with higher odds of binge-eating disorder (OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.05-1.19) and binge-eating behaviors (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.10). Sleep duration under 9 h was prospectively associated with greater binge-eating behaviors.

Sleep disturbance, insomnia symptoms, and shorter sleep duration were prospectively associated with binge eating in early adolescence. Healthcare providers should consider screening for binge-eating symptoms among early adolescents with sleep disturbance.

Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.

Insomnia is a prevalent symptom among cancer patients. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely applied in managing sleep disorders, particularly in cancer patients or those experiencing insomnia.

This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture for treating cancer-related insomnia.

Two independent reviewers conducted comprehensive searches across multiple databases, including EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Wanfang Digital Journals, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals. The search was completed on April 28, 2024. The reviewers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias (ROB) assessment using the revised Cochrane ROB tool. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 15.0 software.

Eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 550 patients (305 in the experimental group and 245 in the control group) were included. EA significantly reduced Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores (SMD = -0.86, 95% CI [-1.24, -0.49], p < 0.001), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores (SMD = -1.14, 95% CI [-1.59, -0.69], p < 0.001), sleep latency (SL) (SMD = -0.48, 95% CI [-0.73, -0.23], p < 0.001), and sleep disturbance (SDB) (SMD = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.73, -0.16], p = 0.002). EA also significantly lowered Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-Anxiety) scores (SMD = -0.59, 95% CI [-0.91, -0.26], p < 0.001) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression (HADS-Depression) scores (SMD = -0.73, 95% CI [-1.06, -0.40], p < 0.001), while increasing total sleep time (TST) (SMD = 0.65, 95% CI [0.14, 1.17], p = 0.013). No significant differences were observed in the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), sleep duration (SD), sleep efficiency (SE), or sleep quality (SQ) scores between the EA and control groups.

Electroacupuncture has shown promising potential in treating cancer-related insomnia by increasing total sleep time and reducing sleep disturbances. However, additional high-quality studies are necessary to validate these findings.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=567567, Identifier CRD42024567567.

Background/Objectives: Several studies have reported alarming rates of mental health issues and sleep problems among nurses even in the post-pandemic era. The objective was to investigate the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, burnout and insomnia among nurses in Greece one year after the end of the pandemic and to construct a mediation model evaluating the impact of stress on insomnia, the chain mediating roles of depressive symptoms and burnout, as well as the moderating role of anxiety symptoms in the model. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online in July 2024 and included 380 hospital nurses who completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). Results: The prevalence rates of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, burnout and insomnia were 33.9% with 95% confidence interval (CI): [0.292, 0.390], 33.3% (95% CI: [0.284, 0.381]), 35% (95% CI: [0.302, 0.400]), 46.8% (95% CI: [0.399, 0.502]) and 56.1% (95% CI: [0.509, 0.611]), respectively. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the Depression subscale of the DASS-21 explained 40.6% of the variance in the AIS, while an additional 7.6% was explained by the CBI and another 1.3% rate by the Stress subscale of the DASS-21. Mediation analysis revealed that stress affected insomnia both directly and indirectly through the chain mediating roles of depressive symptoms and burnout. Anxiety symptoms moderated the chain mediation path by enhancing the negative impact of stress on depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The proposed moderated chain mediation model introduces certain factors influencing insomnia and explains how changes in any one of these factors effectuate changes in the other factors, offering insights for individualized interventions.

Childhood sleep quality is associated with physical, cognitive, and behavioral health and predicts later sleep quality; it has many determinants, including developmental exposures.

To examine associations between maternal stress during pregnancy and childhood sleep quality and determine whether postnatal stress mediates the association.

Data from the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes cohort were used. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) T-scores were the exposure measure. Outcome measures were preschool Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) sleep syndrome scale and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Sleep Disturbance Parent Proxy short form 4a (PSD4a) T-scores at ages 4-8 years. Linear mixed-effects regression modeling was performed for each sleep outcome, adjusting for maternal age at delivery and education and child sex, gestational age at birth, and age at outcome ascertainment, with random intercepts for cohorts.

Prenatal PSS score was associated with both CBCL (B = 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.06, 0.11; p < 0.01) and PSD4a (B = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.12; p < 0.01) scores. Postnatal perceived stress mediated a proportion of the total effect of prenatal stress in both CBCL (66.3%) and PSD4a (95.9%) samples.

Both pre- and postnatal maternal perceived stress appear to influence sleep quality during early life.

Prenatal stress significantly associates with child sleep problems and disturbances at ages 4-8 years; postnatal maternal stress is a significant mediator of these associations. Research suggests a range of prenatal affective/distress exposures associated with child sleep problems, but the conclusions remain in doubt due to the mixture of exposures and outcomes employed. Ours is the first US-based effort to explore associations between perceived maternal stress during pregnancy and child sleep problems and disturbance in early and middle childhood. Even a small effect of a prevalent issue like psychosocial stress may have important public health implications at the population level.

Background/Objectives: Manual massage is an effective treatment approach for reducing general stress and promoting an overall sense of well-being. Relaxation massage aims to alleviate psychophysiological tension, enhance both blood and lymphatic circulation, and promote mental and physical relaxation. It is particularly beneficial for those with anxiety-related symptoms (such as generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety) and sleep disorders, aiming to improve calmness and promote sleepiness. Aims: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of a single session of relaxation massage prior to bedtime on sleep quality and quantity indices in individuals with symptoms of chronic insomnia. Methods: In total, 20 (N = 20) healthy individuals (aged 25.5 ± 12.0 years; 6F/14M) with a score on the Athens Insomnia Scale of ≥16 participated under three different conditions over one week apart: (1) a 45 min relaxation massage condition (REL), (2) a 45 min sham massage condition (PLA), and (3) a control condition with no massage. Sleep activity was monitored using a portable polysomnographic system. Results: A statistically significant effect was observed between sleep efficiency across the three sessions (p = 0.034), with a notable effect in the relaxation massage (REL) session (p = 0.045). Additionally, sustained sleep efficiency showed a statistically significant difference among the sessions (p = 0.005). Conclusions: Relaxation massage prior to bedtime could be used as an effective and safe non-pharmacological approach for improving sleep efficiency and potentially restoring the fragmented sleep of individuals with symptoms of insomnia. Trial registration number: The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT06781866.

In healthy individuals, the majority of cortisol secretion occurs within several hours surrounding morning awakening. A highly studied component of this secretory period is the cortisol awakening response (CAR), the rapid increase in cortisol levels across the first 30 to 45 minutes after morning awakening. This strong cortisol burst at the start of the active phase has been proposed to be functional in preparing the organism for the challenges of the upcoming day. Here, we review evidence on key regulatory and functional processes of the CAR and develop an integrative model of its functional role. Specifically, we propose that, in healthy individuals, the CAR is closely regulated by an intricate dual-control system, which draws upon key circadian, environmental, and neurocognitive processes to best predict the daily need for cortisol-related action. Fine-tuned CAR expression, in turn, is then assumed to induce potent glucocorticoid action via rapid nongenomic and slower genomic pathways (eg, affecting circadian clock gene expression) to support and modulate daily activity through relevant metabolic, immunological, and neurocognitive systems. We propose that this concerted action is adaptive in mediating two main functions: a primary process to mobilize resources to meet activity-related demands and a secondary process to help the organism counterregulate adverse prior-day emotional experiences.

Previous research has found brain structural and functional abnormalities in patients with insomnia disorder (ID). However, the relationship between brain abnormalities in ID and brain gene expression is unclear. This study explored the relationship between gene expression and brain structural or functional abnormalities in ID, and we validated the reliability of the results with two independent datasets (discover dataset: healthy control (HC) = 129, ID = 264; validation dataset: HC = 160, ID = 115). Brain imaging results show that ID has abnormal resting-state spontaneous activity, regional homogeneity, and widespread gray matter volume reduction compared to HC. The association analysis results with gene expression further revealed that brain function abnormalities in ID were significantly associated with gene expression, but structural abnormalities were not. This study establishes a link between transcriptional changes and brain functional abnormalities in ID, revealing a genetic basis that may involve several biological pathways. Specifically, these pathways include hormonal regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a crucial role in stress response and sleep regulation; ion transport across membranes, vital for neuronal communication; and inhibitory neuronal regulation, essential for maintaining normal brain function. Furthermore, the ID-related genes are enriched for brain tissue and cortical cells, emphasizing their relevance in understanding the biological underpinnings of ID.

Background/Objectives: Sleep disturbances are common among children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and are often accompanied by emotional and behavioral challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between sleep problems, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in children with FASD. Methods: The study included 90 children aged 7 to 16 years diagnosed with FASD, who were primarily in foster or adoptive care. Participants completed validated psychometric tools, including the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC) and Children's Depression Inventory 2 (CDI 2). Results: Sleep disturbances were significant, with 71.1% of participants scoring above the clinical threshold in CSHQ. State anxiety, measured by STAIC C-1, was positively correlated with specific sleep difficulties, such as bedtime resistance (r = 0.30, p = 0.008) and sleep anxiety (r = 0.31, p = 0.005). However, no correlation was found between trait anxiety (STAIC C-2) and sleep problems. Parent-reported depressive symptoms, measured using CDI 2:P, were strongly associated with general sleep disturbances (r = 0.27, p < 0.011), parasomnias (r = 0.33, p = 0.002) and daytime sleepiness (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that sleep disturbances in children with FASD are closely related to state anxiety and depressive symptoms. The results emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing sleep and emotional health in this population. Further research is needed to examine these relationships and their implications for clinical practice.

There is growing evidence on the association between meeting the recommendations of isolated movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep) with anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, the joint association of meeting the 24 h movement guidelines with anxiety and depressive symptoms is still unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the association of meeting 24-hour movement guidelines with symptoms of anxiety and of depression in adults. The sample included 212 participants. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), while physical activity and sedentary time were evaluated by accelerometry, and daily slept hours were self-reported. Age, sex, socioeconomic status, accelerometer wear time, and waist circumference were covariates. Poisson regression models (crude and adjusted by covariates) were used to analyze association between variables. Meeting isolate recommendations of 24-hour movement guidelines were not associated with symptoms of anxiety or depression. However, meeting two or three recommendations was inversely associated with symptoms of anxiety (β= -0.235; 95%CI= -0.447; -0.024); (β= -0.569; 95%CI= -0.853; -0.285) and of depression (β= -0.275; 95%CI= -0.509; -0.040); (β= -0.551; 95%CI= -0.877; -0.224), respectively. Intervention strategies for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms should target the meeting of more than one movement guidelines, such as increasing physical activity, reducing sedentary time, and promoting adequate sleep time for adults.

The purpose of this study was to look into the relationship between pre-sleep arousal state, sleep reactivity, and serum levels of neuroendocrine hormones (cortisol, copeptin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone) in patients with chronic insomnia disorders (CID), and whether the effects of sleep reactivity and pre-sleep arousal on insomnia are related to the levels of these neuroendocrine hormones.

This study included 61 CID patients and 27 healthy controls (HC) whose base data were matched to those of the CID patients. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI), Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS), and the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST) were used to evaluate the participants' sleep, stress, and neuropsychological function. We measured the participants' serum concentration levels of cortisol, copeptin, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), using quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

The CID group had significantly greater serum levels of copeptin, CRH, and cortisol, as well as higher FIRST and PSAS scores than the HC group. The partial correlation analysis revealed a substantial and positive association among cortisol, CRH, copeptin PSQI, PSAS, and FIRST after adjusting for sex, age, depression, and cognition. Principal component analysis showed that PSQI, FIRST, and PSAS, as well as cortisol, CRH, and copeptin, were all loaded on factor 1.

Patients with CID showed increased sleep reactivity and pre-sleep arousal, which correlated with serum levels of cortisol, copeptin, and CRH. Changes in neuroendocrine hormone levels may influence how pre-sleep arousal and sleep reactivity affect the development of insomnia.

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are prevalent psychiatric conditions worldwide, significantly impacting the physical and mental well-being of individuals. The treatment of these conditions poses various challenges, including limited efficacy and potential side effects. Tea, a globally recognized healthful beverage, contains a variety of active compounds. Studies have shown that consuming tea or ingesting its certain active ingredients have a beneficial impact on the mental health issues mentioned above. While the effects of tea on physical health are well-documented, there remains a gap in our systematic understanding of its impact on mental health. This article offers a thorough overview of animal, clinical, and epidemiological studies examining tea and its components in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, and summarizes the associated molecular mechanisms. The active ingredients in tea, including L-theanine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine, catechins, theaflavins, caffeine, theacrine, and several volatile compounds, may help improve depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. The underlying molecular mechanisms involve the regulation of neurotransmitters, including monoamines, GABA, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as the suppression of oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, these ingredients may influence the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This review provides valuable insights into the effects and mechanisms by which tea and its components regulate depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, laying the groundwork for further research into relevant mechanisms and the development of tea-based mental health products.

Caffeine is a popular ergogenic aid that has a plethora of evidence highlighting its positive effects. A Google Scholar search using the keywords "caffeine" and "exercise" yields over 200,000 results, emphasizing the extensive research on this topic. However, despite the vast amount of available data, it is intriguing that uncertainties persist regarding the effectiveness and safety of caffeine. These include but are not limited to: 1. Does caffeine dehydrate you at rest? 2. Does caffeine dehydrate you during exercise? 3. Does caffeine promote the loss of body fat? 4. Does habitual caffeine consumption influence the performance response to acute caffeine supplementation? 5. Does caffeine affect upper vs. lower body performance/strength differently? 6. Is there a relationship between caffeine and depression? 7. Can too much caffeine kill you? 8. Are there sex differences regarding caffeine's effects? 9. Does caffeine work for everyone? 10. Does caffeine cause heart problems? 11. Does caffeine promote the loss of bone mineral? 12. Should pregnant women avoid caffeine? 13. Is caffeine addictive? 14. Does waiting 1.5-2.0 hours after waking to consume caffeine help you avoid the afternoon "crash?" To answer these questions, we performed an evidence-based scientific evaluation of the literature regarding caffeine supplementation.

To explore the polysomnographic differences between patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and healthy controls.

An electronic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, All EBM databases, Web of Science, and CNKI from inception to Sep 2023.

Pooled analyses revealed significant reductions in sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency, and increases in awakening time, REM density and REM intensity in patients with OCD compared with healthy controls. Meta-regression analyses reveal no significant influence of OCD severity and disease duration on polysomnographic changes of patients with OCD.

Significant polysomnographic changes are present in OCD. Our findings underscore the need for a comprehensive PSG assessment of sleep changes in patients with OCD.

Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenomas (pituitary neuroendocrine tumours) (NFPA) have a profound detrimental effect of patient-reported health-related quality of life (QOL). Elucidating the underlying mechanisms by which NFPA influence patients' emotional physical and psychosocial wellbeing would provide the foundation for therapeutic strategies to optimise patient outcomes. A systematic review of the literature was performed in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Studies that utilised validated metrics to report QOL in NFPA were included. Patients with NFPA exhibit worse QOL than healthy controls across both mental and physical domains. Surgery provides significant improvements in QOL within 3 months, and QOL can normalise years after successful treatment. Compared with functioning adenomas, QOL is favourable. The underlying mechanisms for QOL detriment in NFPA is multifactorial and includes visual failure, hypopituitarism, headache, sleep dysfunction, pain, the sick role, treatment-related anxiety, and the morbidity of surgical and radiotherapy treatment. The effects of NFPA on QOL are global, with deficits in physical, psychosocial, and cognitive function. With successful treatment, QOL can return to that of the general population. Targeting hypopituitarism, sleep dysfunction, headache, pain, and disease-related anxiety are paths to improve QOL in NFPA.

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the overall efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) in treating insomnia in adolescents, and to examine the efficacy of CBT-I on different sleep-related outcomes in this population.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CBT-I on insomnia in adolescents were identified using electronic databases and manual searches. The Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used to assess risk of bias in RCTs. A standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to combine effect sizes. A sensitivity analysis was performed for each outcome using a stepwise elimination method to assess whether the pooled results were significantly affected by individual studies.

The analysis included 8 RCTs involving a total of 599 participants. The meta-analysis indicated that marked and statistically significant improvements in insomnia (SMD = -1.06; 95% CI -1.65 to -0.47; p < 0.01), sleep onset latency (SMD = -0.99; 95% CI -1.65 to -0.32; p < 0.01), total sleep time (SMD = 0.50; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.90; p = 0.01), and sleep efficiency (SMD = 0.57; 95% CI 0.26 to 0.87; p < 0.01) were observed at post-treatment time point following CBT-I. At follow-up time point, a statistically significant improvement in insomnia (SMD = -0.79; 95% CI -1.42 to -0.17; p = 0.01) was observed following CBT-I.

CBT-I was effective in improving insomnia in adolescents and some sleep-related outcomes, including sleep onset latency, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency. CBT-I was characterized by low risk and high therapeutic benefits and could serve as alternative or adjuvant approaches to medication for the treatment of insomnia. Considering the advantages in terms of safety and efficacy, CBT-I should be the preferred intervention for the treatment of insomnia in adolescents.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, CRD42024526102.

In many medical settings, medications are typically administered in the morning or evening, aligning with patients' daily routines. This practice does not stem from chronotherapy, which involves scheduling drug administration to enhance its effectiveness, but rather from the way clinical operations are structured. The timing of drug administration can significantly affect a medication's effectiveness and side effects, with the impact varying by up to ten times based on circadian rhythms. Disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are linked to disruptions in these rhythms. Recent studies have found that circadian dysfunctions, including genetic and neurohumoral changes, underlie many psychiatric conditions. Issues such as an altered glucocorticoid rhythm due to impaired HPA axis function, disturbed melatonin balance, and sleep disturbances have been noted in psychotic disorders. Furthermore, mood disorders have been associated with changes in the expression of circadian rhythm genes such as Clock, Bmal1, and Per. Considering that the absorption, biodistribution, effects on target organs, half-life, metabolism, and elimination of drugs are all influenced by the body's circadian rhythms, this narrative review explores the optimal timing of medication administration to maximize efficacy and minimize side effects in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. By closely monitoring circadian variations in cortisol, melatonin, and key clock genes, as well as by deepening our understanding of the metabolisms and pharmacokinetics of antipsychotic medications, we propose a chronotherapy approach for psychiatric patients that could significantly enhance patient care.

The sleep homeostatic process in adults is moderately stable over time and unique to an individual. Work in transgenic mice has suggested a role of genes in sleep homeostasis. The current study quantified the genetic contribution to sleep homeostasis in adolescence. We use slow wave energy (SWE) as a metric for sleep pressure dissipation during sleep. This measure reflects both sleep intensity and duration. High-density (58 derivations) sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded in 14 monozygotic and 12 dizygotic adolescent twin pairs (mean age = 13.2 years; standard deviation [SD] = 1.1; 20 females). SWE at the end of sleep was quantified as the cumulative delta power (1-4.6 Hz) over the night. We also examined the time constant of the decay and the level of slow wave activity (SWA) at the beginning of the sleep episode. Structural equation modelling was used to quantify the amount of variance in SWE and the dissipation of sleep pressure due to genes. We found that most (mean = 76% across EEG derivations) of the variance in SWE was due to genes. In contrast, genes had a small (mean = 33%) influence on the rate of dissipation of sleep pressure, and this measure was largely (mean = 67%) driven by environmental factors unique to each twin. Our results show that the amount of dissipated sleep pressure is largely under genetic control; however, the rate of sleep pressure dissipation is largely due to unique environmental factors. Our findings are in line with research in animals and suggest that the heritability of the rate of sleep pressure dissipation is limited.

Objective: To describe the changes in sleep health domains and examine the associations between the repeated measures and intraindividual variability (IIV) of these domains and perceived stress. Participants: A diverse racial and ethnic group of first-year college students (N = 23, 78.3% female, aged 17-18) attending in-person classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Sleep health domains were determined using 7-day wrist actigraph and daily sleep diaries, and perceived stress scale was completed at 1-month intervals across 3 months. Results: Sleep timing, regularity, and alertness during daytime demonstrated statistically significant changes between three timepoints. Greater stress was associated with more irregularity (B = 2.25 [.87-3.62], p < .001), more dissatisfaction in sleep (B = .04 [.02-.19], p < .01), alertness during daytime (B = .18 [.05-.31], p < .001), and greater IIV (ie, fluctuations) in sleep satisfaction (B = .083 [.02, .15], p < .01). Conclusion: These findings offer insights for future researchers to facilitate intervention development to promote mental and sleep health among college students.

Binaural beats can entrain neural oscillations and modulate behavioral states. However, the effect of binaural beats, particularly those with slow frequencies (< 1 Hz), on sleep remains poorly understood. We hypothesized that 0.25-Hz beats can entrain neural oscillations and enhance slow-wave sleep by shortening its latency or increasing its duration. To investigate this, we included 12 healthy participants (six women; mean age, 25.4 ± 2.6 years) who underwent four 90-min afternoon nap sessions, comprising a sham condition (without acoustic stimulation) and three binaural-beat conditions (0, 0.25, or 1 Hz) with a 250-Hz carrier tone. The acoustic stimuli, delivered through earphones, were sustained throughout the 90-min nap period. Both N2- and N3- latencies were shorter in the 0.25-Hz binaural beats condition than in the sham condition. We observed no significant results regarding neural entrainment at slow frequencies, such as 0.25 and 1 Hz, and the modulation of sleep oscillations, including delta and sigma activity, by binaural beats. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the potential of binaural beats at slow frequencies, specifically 0.25 Hz, for inducing slow-wave sleep in generally healthy populations.

Numerous studies have identified connections between child maltreatment and sleep-related issues. However, poor is known on potential links between sleep patterns and day-to-day functioning, along with psychopathology in maltreated youths. Additionally, existing research on the relationship between sleep difficulties and maltreatment often lacks investigation into specific sleep difficulty profiles across different age ranges. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of diverse sleep disturbance profiles in a sample of maltreated children and adolescents, exploring distinct sleep disorder profiles based on sex, age, and the type of maltreatment experienced. Potential variations in adaptive and psychopathological profiles between maltreated children with and without sleep disturbances were also explored. This retrospective study included 91 children and adolescents (56% males, 44% females), aged 6 to 17, with a history of maltreatment (physical maltreatment, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, or neglect), referring for a neuropsychiatric and psychological evaluation at a pediatric hospital. Data were obtained through a retrospective file review. Sleep difficulties were measured through the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children; cognitive abilities, adaptive skills, and emotional and behavioral features were also investigated. Among maltreated youth, difficulties in initiating and maintaining sleep were the most frequently observed by caregivers. Poor sex differences emerged, whereas adolescents exhibited more daytime somnolence than school-age children. Children with sleep difficulties exhibited more anxiety symptoms and worse global functioning in comparison with children without sleep difficulties.Conclusion: Considering the vital impact of sleep quality on healthy development, practitioners should offer tailored services to child maltreatment victims. Enhancing the sleep quality of these children could help foster their resilience.

Thalassemia major (TM) experiences a high rate of psychiatric problems, with frequent occurrences of depression and anxiety as well as a high incidence of insomnia. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the severity of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, sleep quality, and fatigue and explore the relationship between sleep quality and laboratory parameters.

Twenty-eight patients and 37 healthy volunteers were included. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Fatigue Severity Scale were used.

We found 46.43% of TM patients had depression, 78.5% had mild anxiety, and 3.57% had severe anxiety. ISI score (p = 0.027), ISI subthreshold insomnia percentage (p = 0.027), PSQI global score (p = 0.002), PSQI insomnia percentage (p = 0.025), PSQI subjective sleep quality (p = 0.008), PSQI sleep latency (p = 0.003), fatigue score (p = 0.026), and chronic fatigue (p = 0.037) percentage were significantly higher in the patients group than in the controls group. Ferritin was positively correlated with PSQI subjective sleep quality (r = 0.478, p = 0.010) and fatigue score (r = 0.427, p = 0.023). Heart involvement in magnetic resonance imaging was positively correlated with ISI score (r = 0.426, p = 0.024) and ISI classification (r = 0.455, p = 0.015).

Depression and anxiety were significantly higher in TM patients compared to healthy controls. Chronic fatigue and insomnia were more common in TM patients, with subjective sleep quality being impaired and sleep latency prolonged. Furthermore, it was observed that individuals with higher ferritin levels had higher scores of subjective sleep quality and fatigue. Additionally, as cardiac involvement increased, severity of insomnia also increased.

Sodium imbalance is a common electrolyte disturbance in COVID-19, often linked to disruptions in hormonal regulation. This review explores the relationship between sodium dysregulation and endocrine disturbances, particularly focusing on primary and secondary hypothyroidism, hypocortisolism, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Hypocortisolism in COVID-19, due to adrenal insufficiency or secondary to pituitary dysfunction, can lead to hyponatremia through inadequate cortisol levels, which impair renal free water excretion and enhance antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion. Similarly, hypothyroidism is associated with decreased renal blood flow and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which also increases ADH activity, leading to water retention and dilutional hyponatremia. Furthermore, COVID-19 can disrupt RAAS (primarily through its interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor), diminishing aldosterone secretion and further contributing to sodium loss and hyponatremia. These hormonal disruptions suggest that sodium imbalance in COVID-19 is multifactorial and warrants further investigation into the complex interplay between COVID-19, endocrine function, and sodium homeostasis. Future research should focus on understanding these mechanisms to develop management algorithms that address both sodium imbalance and underlying hormonal disturbances in order to improve prognosis and outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Current evidence suggests that cortisol levels are bi-directionally associated with sleep. However, the daily, naturalistic cortisol-sleep associations remain unclear, as current evidence is mostly cross-sectional. This study tested whether pre-sleep cortisol predicts sleep duration and quality, and whether these sleep parameters predict the following day's diurnal cortisol slope using a 15-day intensive longitudinal design with electroencephalographic measures and saliva sampling.

Ninety-five young adults (Mage = 20.48 ± 1.59 years) provided saliva samples at awakening and pre-sleep over 14 consecutive days, providing 2345 samples (85% viable). The Z-Machine Insight + was used to record over 900 nights of total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency (SE). Multilevel models tested these data at the between- and within-person levels.

Higher pre-sleep cortisol predicted shorter TST (p < .001) and lower SE (p < .001) at the within-person level. Individuals with shorter average TST (p = .007) or lower average SE (p < .001) had flatter diurnal cortisol slopes, compared to those with longer average TST or higher average SE. Follow-up analyses showed that individuals with shorter average TST (vs. longer average TST) had higher pre-sleep cortisol levels (p = .01).

Our findings provide evidence that pre-sleep cortisol is associated with sleep duration and quality at the within-individual level. Furthermore, individuals with short or poor sleep had flatter diurnal cortisol slopes. Although the effect sizes are small, these findings show the naturalistic associations between sleep and cortisol in a relatively healthy sample. These findings suggest that sleep maintains the regulation of the stress-response system, which is protective against mental and physical disorders.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected people's economies, lifestyles, and physical, emotional, and sleep health. This research aimed to estimate the prevalence of insomnia and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression among teachers with the resumption of in-person instruction at schools following a hiatus after COVID-19 lockdowns in India. We also studied the association of teachers' insomnia with psychological symptoms and demographic variables.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey between October -November 2021 after schools had reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected using standard questionnaires online among schoolteachers. We explored the association of insomnia with teachers' symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, sex, school boards, and age groups.

Of 124 schoolteachers surveyed, the prevalence of insomnia was 37.9% (subthreshold in 25% and clinical in 12.9%). The prevalence of stress, depression, and anxiety was 20.2%, 30.6%, and 45.2%, respectively. There was a significant association (p<0.001) of insomnia with symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression in univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, we found that those feeling stressed had a 6.4 times higher risk of insomnia (95% CI: 1.5-28.3, p - 0.01). There was no association of insomnia with age, sex, school educational boards, and type of institution.

Over one-third (37.9%) of teachers reported having trouble sleeping when they returned to the school's typical face-to-face instruction modalities through COVID-19 times, and insomnia was more prevalent in those with stress.

Time of day can alter memory performance in general. Its influence on memory recognition performance for faces, which is important for daily encounters with new persons or testimonies, has not been investigated yet. Importantly, high levels of the stress hormone cortisol impair memory recognition, in particular for emotional material. However, some studies also reported high cortisol levels to enhance memory recognition. Since cortisol levels in the morning are usually higher than in the evening, time of day might also influence recognition performance. In this pre-registered study with a two-day design, 51 healthy men encoded pictures of male and female faces with distinct emotional expressions on day one around noon. Memory for the faces was retrieved two days later at two consecutive testing times either in the morning (high and moderately increased endogenous cortisol levels) or in the evening (low endogenous cortisol levels). Additionally, alertness as well as salivary cortisol levels at the different timepoints was assessed. Cortisol levels were significantly higher in the morning compared to the evening group as expected, while both groups did not differ in alertness. Familiarity ratings for female stimuli were significantly better when participants were tested during moderately increased endogenous cortisol levels in the morning than during low endogenous cortisol levels in the evening, a pattern which was previously also observed for stressed versus non-stressed participants. In addition, cortisol levels during that time in the morning were positively correlated with the recollection of face stimuli in general. Thus, recognition memory performance may depend on the time of day and as well as on stimulus type, such as the difference of male and female faces. Most importantly, the results suggest that cortisol may be meaningful and worth investigating when studying the effects of time of day on memory performance. This research offers both, insights into daily encounters as well as legally relevant domains as for instance testimonies.

A multitude of physical and mental challenges are being faced in the population with Co-morbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea (COMISA). Unfortunately, research about clinical characteristics and management of COMISA based on quantitative evidence is lacking.

Standard procedures for literature retrieval, selection and quality assessment, data extraction, analysis, and interpretation were conducted step by step. For studying the sleep characteristics, common complications and widely recognized treatment options for COMISA, Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) and Odds Ratio (OR) were applied to assess the mean and risk differences between compared groups. Outcomes included sleep health parameters and secondary impairments in physical and mental well-being.

COMISA showed worse sleep quality than OSA only by PSQI (WMD = 3.38 point) and heavier sleep fragmentation (WMD = 11.46 min) than insomnia only. Besides, COMISA patients showed a higher risk for depression (OR [95%CI] = 5.03[2.31, 10.93]) and PTSD (OR [95%CI] = 3.96[1.85, 8.46]) in comparison with OSA alone. Compared to insomnia alone, COMISA patients suffered from more than two times higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes. In treating COMISA patients, combining CBTI with PAP treatment can enhance the improvement of insomnia severity (ISI, WMD [95%CI] =-3.26[-4.51, -2.00] point) and sleep efficiency (WMD [95%CI] = 6.39[1.97, 10.81] %) compared to PAP alone.

Impaired sleep domains in COMISA cover sleep quality and sleep structure. Also, COMISA has a higher risk for cardiometabolic diseases and mental disorders. Combining CBTI with PAP can be a recommended treatment to relieve sleep impairments for COMISA.

Sleep disturbances, encompassing altered sleep physiology or disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea, profoundly impact physiological functions and elevate disease risk. Despite extensive research, the underlying mechanisms and sex-specific differences in sleep disorders remain elusive. While polysomnography serves as a cornerstone for human sleep studies, animal models provide invaluable insights into sleep mechanisms. However, the availability of animal models of sleep disorders is limited, with each model often representing a specific sleep issue or mechanism. Therefore, selecting appropriate animal models for sleep research is critical. Given the significant sex differences in sleep patterns and disorders, incorporating both male and female subjects in studies is essential for uncovering sex-specific mechanisms with clinical relevance. This review provides a comprehensive overview of various rodent models of sleep disturbance, including sleep deprivation, sleep fragmentation, and circadian rhythm dysfunction. We evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each model and discuss sex differences in sleep and sleep disorders, along with potential mechanisms. We aim to advance our understanding of sleep disorders and facilitate sex-specific interventions.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impact on infant sleep (IS) is understudied. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between family impact and distress from COVID-19 pandemic stressors, parental insomnia symptoms, infant temperamental negative affectivity, and parent-reported IS.

Parents from the Phoenix metropolitan area with a full-term healthy infant (<1 year) were recruited from February 27, 2021, to August 7, 2021. A sample of 70 parents (baby age 5.5 ± 3.5 months; parental age: 31.7 ± 5.0 years) completed the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS) Impact and Distress scales, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Infant Behavioral Questionnaire-Revised Negative Affectivity subscale (IBQ-R-NA), and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire-Revised (BISQ-R). Based on the transactional model of IS, path analyses were conducted to identify the direct effect of CEFIS scores and the indirect effects of parental ISI and infant IBQ-R-NA scores on BISQ-R scores.

The parent sample was predominantly female (94.3%), white (72.9%), and married or in a domestic partnership (98.6%). Although COVID-19 pandemic impact and distress were not directly related to parent-reported IS, pandemic distress was negatively related to parent-reported IS indirectly through infant negative affectivity, including BISQ-R total score (β = -0.14, 95% CI [-0.32, -0.01]) and IS subscale score (β = -0.12, 95% CI [-0.27, -0.01]).

Heightened COVID-19 pandemic family distress was related to poorer parent-reported IS through greater parent-reported infant negative affectivity, suggesting the importance of addressing family stress and emotional regulation during crises.