SLEEP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING IN U.S. AND SOUTH KOREAN ADOLESCENTS
Author(s)
Hyunju Seo, PhD1, Jiahn Park, .2, Dahee Kim, MS3;
1Chungnam National University College of Nursing, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of, 2Buford High School, Buford, GA, USA, 3Graduate School of Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
1Chungnam National University College of Nursing, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of, 2Buford High School, Buford, GA, USA, 3Graduate School of Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
OBJECTIVES: With the increasing prevalence of insufficient sleep among adolescents, attention to psychological health is warranted. We investigated the associations between sleep duration and suicidal outcomes and depression among high school students.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS). The analysis included high school students in grades 9-12, with average nightly sleep duration categorized as <8 hours or ≥8 hours. Multivariable survey logistic regression models were used to estimate suicidal outcomes, depression, and stress associated with sleep duration, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and behavioral variables. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age, race group, and alcohol use.
RESULTS: Of the 44,161 US and 97,055 Korean students, 77.3% and 87.5%, respectively, reported sleeping <8 hours on average. Students with <8 hours of sleep were more likely to be older, have a higher BMI, and report alcohol use and smoking. In both the US and Korea, <8 hours of sleep was associated with higher prevalences of suicidal ideation (22.5% vs. 12.6%), suicide attempts (9.5% vs. 2.2%), and depressive symptoms (43.3% vs. 27.8%), with overall prevalences and differences compared with ≥8 hours of sleep consistently higher in the US. In the US, short sleep was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.63-2.02), suicide attempts (1.11, 1.00-1.24), depression (1.83, 1.68-1.99), and poor mental health (1.14, 1.02-1.26). Similarly, in Korea, short sleep was associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation (1.27, 1.18-1.36), depression (1.25, 1.19-1.32), and stress (1.38, 1.32-1.45), while associations with suicide attempts were not statistically significant. Stronger associations were observed among boys and alcohol non-users.
CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep was associated with worse psychological well-being and increased suicidal risk among adolescents in both countries, with more pronounced associations in the US.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2019, 2021, and 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey (KYRBS). The analysis included high school students in grades 9-12, with average nightly sleep duration categorized as <8 hours or ≥8 hours. Multivariable survey logistic regression models were used to estimate suicidal outcomes, depression, and stress associated with sleep duration, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and behavioral variables. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age, race group, and alcohol use.
RESULTS: Of the 44,161 US and 97,055 Korean students, 77.3% and 87.5%, respectively, reported sleeping <8 hours on average. Students with <8 hours of sleep were more likely to be older, have a higher BMI, and report alcohol use and smoking. In both the US and Korea, <8 hours of sleep was associated with higher prevalences of suicidal ideation (22.5% vs. 12.6%), suicide attempts (9.5% vs. 2.2%), and depressive symptoms (43.3% vs. 27.8%), with overall prevalences and differences compared with ≥8 hours of sleep consistently higher in the US. In the US, short sleep was associated with higher odds of suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.63-2.02), suicide attempts (1.11, 1.00-1.24), depression (1.83, 1.68-1.99), and poor mental health (1.14, 1.02-1.26). Similarly, in Korea, short sleep was associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation (1.27, 1.18-1.36), depression (1.25, 1.19-1.32), and stress (1.38, 1.32-1.45), while associations with suicide attempts were not statistically significant. Stronger associations were observed among boys and alcohol non-users.
CONCLUSIONS: Short sleep was associated with worse psychological well-being and increased suicidal risk among adolescents in both countries, with more pronounced associations in the US.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH195
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas