The battle of sexes: differences in alcohol and sleep among sexes and mental  health disorders

Background: The present study aimed to examine the interconnections between chronotype, sleep quality, alcohol consumption and mental health, and the role of sex (male and female) on these connections. Previous studies have shown that evening chronotype is connected to poorer sleep quality, higher alcohol consumption and worse mental health. Yet, there is limited research on the interactions between all these variables and on the role of sex differences. The current study hypothesized the mediating role of alcohol between sleep and mental health, and the moderating role of sex and mental health. Methods: Quantitative data of a big participant sample (N=2165) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) was used. Participants derived from various settings and represented both healthy and clinical groups. Self-report measures were used, and mediation and moderation analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. Results: Alcohol was not found to mediate the...Show moreBackground: The present study aimed to examine the interconnections between chronotype, sleep quality, alcohol consumption and mental health, and the role of sex (male and female) on these connections. Previous studies have shown that evening chronotype is connected to poorer sleep quality, higher alcohol consumption and worse mental health. Yet, there is limited research on the interactions between all these variables and on the role of sex differences. The current study hypothesized the mediating role of alcohol between sleep and mental health, and the moderating role of sex and mental health. Methods: Quantitative data of a big participant sample (N=2165) from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) was used. Participants derived from various settings and represented both healthy and clinical groups. Self-report measures were used, and mediation and moderation analyses were performed to test the hypotheses. Results: Alcohol was not found to mediate the relationship between sleep and mental health. Sex differences were found in anxiety and alcohol consumption, with women scoring higher in both. Sex also acted as a moderator between sleep quality and depression, and sleep quality and anxiety. Mental health status was found to affect chronotype and sleep quality, with healthy individuals being morning chronotypes more frequently and reporting higher sleep quality. Conclusions: The results of the current study contribute to our understanding of the interactions between sleep, alcohol and mental health, underlining the role of sex and mental health. This knowledge can be used in designing more personalized and multidimensional treatments, improving the quality of psychological care.Show less

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The battle of sexes: differences in alcohol and sleep among sexes and mental health disorders