Influence of perceived stress on sleep quality among resident physicians: the chain mediating role of self-control and anxiety emotions
10.11886/scjsws20251220001
- VernacularTitle:住培医师压力知觉对睡眠质量的影响:自我控制和焦虑情绪的链式作用路径
- Author:
Minghui ZHANG
1
;
Xinmeng ZHANG
1
;
Wenjing YE
1
;
Xiaotao ZHANG
2
;
Hongtao SONG
1
;
Gaofeng YAO
3
Author Information
1. School of Mental Health, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu 233000, China
2. Fuyang People's Hospital, Fuyang 236000, China
3. The Third People's Hospital of Fuyang, Fuyang 236000, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Resident physician;
Perceived stress;
Self-control;
Anxiety emotions;
Sleep quality
- From:
Sichuan Mental Health
2026;39(2):165-170
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BackgroundResident physicians represent a high-risk group for sleep disorders, exhibiting a significantly higher prevalence of such conditions compared with the general population, which severely impairs their physical and mental health. It is hypothesized that perceived stress negatively impacts sleep quality through psychological mechanisms, such as depleting self-control resources and triggering anxiety. However, this pathway warrants empirical validation. ObjectiveTo explore the mediating role of self-control and anxiety emotions in the association between perceived stress and sleep quality among resident physicians, and to elucidate the underlying psychological mechanisms, aiming at providing theoretical basis for developing targeted psychological interventions. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2025. First- to third- year resident physicians at a hospital in Fuyang City were recruited as participants (n=372). The Chinese Perceived Stress Scales (CPSS), the Chinese version of the Dual-Mode of Self-Control Scale (DMSC-S), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 item (GAD-7) were used for group testing. The model 6 of the Process macro version 4.1 was ultilized to examine the mediating pathway of self-control and anxiety emotions between perceived stress and sleep quality. ResultsA total of 322 valid questionnaires were collected, yielding an effective responsive rate of 86.56%. Among the respondents, 146 (45.34%) reported poor sleep quality. The CPSS score and GAD-7 score of resident physicians were positively correlated with the PSQI score (r=0.727, 0.784, P<0.01), while the DMSC-S score was negatively correlated with the PSQI score (r=-0.615, P<0.01). Perceived stress directly and positively predicted poor sleep quality (B=0.124, P<0.01), with the direct effect accounting for 31.39% of the total effect. Furthermore, perceived stress indirectly affected sleep quality through the independent mediating effects of self-control and anxiety emotions. The indirect effect values of 0.053 (95% CI: 0.019 - 0.091) and 0.192 (95% CI: 0.141 - 0.249), accounting for 13.42% and 48.61% of the total effect, respectively. Perceived stress also impact sleep quality through the serial mediating effect of self-control and anxiety, with the indirect effect value of 0.026 (95% CI: 0.005 - 0.049), accounting for 6.58% of the total effect. ConclusionThe perceived stress of resident physicians can influence sleep quality by impairing self-control, exacerbating anxiety, and through the serial mediation of both factors.