Identification of sleep disturbances and selected behavioral risk factors
- VernacularTitle:Нойрны хямрал ба зан үйлийн эрсдэлт зарим хүчин зүйлийг тодорхойлсон нь
- Author:
Delkhiitsetseg D
1
;
Munkhzol M
1
Author Information
1. MNUMS, School of Biomedicine, Department of Pathophysiology
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Anxiety;
Depression;
Lifestyle;
Abnormal sleep
- From:
Mongolian Journal of Health Sciences
2026;92(2):73-77
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Sleep is essential for maintaining the body’s internal balance, as well as psychological stability and cognitive performance. In particular, it is a fundamental process for maintaining physical and mental health by promoting axonal repair and memory consolidation. Consequently, sleep disturbances may lead not only to physiological dysfunction but also to behavioral and psychological risks.
Aim:To evaluate sleep disturbances and determine selected associated risk factors.
Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals receiving treatment at the “BogdUul” sanatorium for reasons other than insomnia between December 2024 and March 2025. A total of 209 participants aged 18 years and older were randomly selected regardless of sex. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Anxiety was measured using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger–Hanin), and depression was evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Lifestyle factors that could potentially influence sleep were assessed using a structured questionnaire. A PSQI score greater than 5 indicated the presence of sleep disturbance. According to the STAI scale, scores of 0–1.4 indicated no anxiety, 1.5–1.9 mild anxiety, 2.0–2.9 moderate anxiety, 3.0–3.4 severe anxiety, and 3.5–4.0 profound anxiety. Depression based on the CES-D scale was classified as no depression (0–15), moderate depression (16–21), and severe depression (≥22).
Result:The study included 209 participants aged 18–89 years, with a mean age of 49.61±17.64 years (men: 52.23±2.52; women: 48.65±1.39). Of the participants, 25.4% (n=53) were men and 74.6% (n=156) were women. Based on the PSQI results, 45.9% (n=96) had normal sleep quality, while 54.1% (n=113) had sleep disturbances. Among those with sleep disturbances, 79.6% (n=90) were women and 20.4% (n=23) were men. Psychological assessment showed that 23.4% (n=49) reported frequent exposure to stress, 70.8% (n=148) had state anxiety, 85.6% (n=179) had trait anxiety, and 23.4% (n=49) were identified as having depressive symptoms. When comparing the groups, participants with normal sleep were more likely to have no anxiety (42.7%) or only mild anxiety (37.5%). In contrast, more than 70% of those with sleep disturbances had mild (34.5%) or moderate (36.3%) anxiety, and severe anxiety (11.5%) was observed 2.6 times more frequently than in the normal sleep group. A similar trend was observed for trait anxiety. Among individuals with normal sleep, the majority had no (28.1%) or mild anxiety (46.9%), whereas moderate (41.6%) and severe (20.4%) levels were more common among those with sleep disturbances. While 85.5% of participants with normal sleep had no depression, more than 30% of those with sleep disturbances had moderate or severe depression (15.9% each). Sleep disturbance showed a moderate positive correlation with state anxiety (r=0.309; p < 0.001), trait anxiety (r=0.451; p<0.001), and depression (r=0.312; p<0.001). Weak but significant associations were also found with evening intellectual workload (Phi=0.216; χ²=9.754, p=0.002), irregular sleep patterns (Phi=0.181; χ²=6.880, p=0.009), and frequent exposure to stress (Phi=0.254; χ²=13.470, p<0.001). Risk factor analysis indicated that intellectually demanding work in the evening (OR=6.660; 95% CI: 1.501–29.546), frequent exposure to stress (OR=4.904; 95% CI: 1.973–12.189), consumption of strong tea or coffee in the evening (OR=3.288; 95% CI: 1.010–10.700), irregular sleep schedules (OR=2.096; 95% CI: 1.122–3.916), trait anxiety (OR=1.088; 95% CI: 1.041–1.137), and state anxiety (OR=1.038; 95% CI: 1.000–1.076) were associated with an increased risk of sleep disturbances.
Conclusion:Evening intellectual workload, frequent exposure to stress, consumption of strong tea or coffee in the evening, irregular sleep patterns, and both state and trait anxiety were identified as risk factors for sleep disturbances.
- Full text:202609262051592447913.pdf
