Sleep health of young adults in Western Australia and associations with physical and mental health: A population-level cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: This article aims to report on the sleep health characteristics of a population-level sample of young Australian adults and examine associations with measures of physical and mental health.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study using data from the Raine Study. Data from participants (n = 1234) born into the study (Generation 2) at the 22-year follow-up were used, including data from a self-report questionnaire and polysomnography.

RESULTS: The highest prevalence of suboptimal sleep health was seen on measures of sleep duration (30%), onset latency (18%), satisfaction (25%) and regularity (60%). Dissatisfaction with sleep (physical health: β =0.08; mental health: β =0.34) and impaired daytime alertness (physical health: β =0.09; mental health: β =0.08) were significantly associated with poorer physical and mental health and inadequate polysomnography-measured sleep duration was associated poorer mental health (β =0.07) (all ps<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Satisfaction with sleep and daytime alertness, both of which are assessed via self-report, are essential aspects of sleep health for young adults.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Findings could inform public health interventions, including screening guidelines, to improve the sleep health and, in turn, the physical and mental health of young adults in Australia.