Changes in sleep behavior, sleep problems, and psychological distress/health-related quality of life of young Japanese individuals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Social restrictions during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic have impacted sleep behavior and sleep problems, and their related daytime functioning in young adults. However, no studies have examined such changes in young individuals from countries with mild infection intensity and social restrictions. Therefore, we focused on sleep behaviors and sleep issues in young people in Japan. This study was conducted before and after the pandemic (October 2019 and May 2020, respectively). In total, 2,222 (1,371 students and 851 workers) individuals participated and completed anonymous Web-based questionnaires concerning demographic characteristics, sleep behaviors, sleep problems using the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (JESS) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-J), psychological distress using the Japanese version of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluated with the Short Form-8 (SF-8). A significantly delayed sleep phase was observed in the second survey compared to the first (p < .001) and was more pronounced in students than in workers (p < .001). The total sleep time, social jetlag degree, and JESS, AIS-J, and SF-8 scores were significantly improved after the pandemic (p < .001, p < .001, p < .001, p < .001, p < .05, and p < .001, respectively). Careful monitoring of whether these modest changes can lead to adjustment concerns is needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Coronavirus disease 2019
• younger generation
• social restriction
• sleep behavior
• sleep problems
• health-related QoL

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (grant number 18K07581).

Disclosure statement

Yuichi Inoue has received a speaker’s honoraria from Eisai Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., and MSD K.K. and consultation fee from Eisai Co., Ltd. Yoko Komada has received research funding from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and lecture fees from Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, U.I, upon reasonable request.

Submission declaration

All authors have read and approved this manuscript. This manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety and is not under consideration by another journal.

Notes

1. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease of 2019; HRQoL, health-related quality of life; TIB, time in bed; TST, total sleep time; JESS, Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale; AIS-J, Japanese version of the Athens Insomnia Scale; K6-J, Japanese version of the six-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; SF-8, Short Form-8; PCS, physical component score of the SF-8; MCS, mental component score of the SF-8; GFI, goodness of fit index; AGFI, adjusted GFI; CFI, comparative fit index; RMSEA, root mean square error of approximation; aOR, adjusted odds ratio.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research under grant [18K07581].