Abstract

The relationships of insomnia and short and long nocturnal sleep durations with quality of life and the moderating effects of sex and age in Taiwanese adolescents

Author(s): Chien-Chuan Wang, Tai-Ling Liu, Ray C Hsiao, Yu-Yu Wu, Huei-Fan Hu, Cheng-Fang Yen

Objective:

The aims of this study were to examine the relationships of insomnia and short and long nocturnal sleep durations with quality of life (QOL) and the moderating effects of sex and age on the relationships after controlling for the effects of depressive symptoms in Taiwanese adolescents.

Methods:

Self-reported insomnia, nocturnal sleep duration and QOL were measured in 5,590 high schools students. The associations of insomnia and nocturnal sleep duration with QOL and the moderating effects of sex and age on the associations were examined by multiple regression analysis models to control for the effects of depression.

Results:

After controlling for the effects of age, sex and depression, the severity of insomnia was negatively associated with all domains of QOL except for the social relationships dimension. Short sleepers had poorer family domain of QOL than average sleepers; however, long sleepers had better pain and psychological wellbeing domains of QOL than average sleepers. Sex and age had moderating effects on the associations of insomnia with several domains of QOL.

Conclusion:

Insomnia and nocturnal sleep duration should be taken into consideration when intervening adolescents’ QOL.