Researchers of a study aimed to investigate the longitudinal associations between sleep and mental health among Australian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. It involved 2,781 participants and used latent class growth analyses over two years to identify trajectories of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Four depressive symptom trajectories were identified: low-stable, average-increasing, high-decreasing, and moderate-increasing. Three anxiety symptom trajectories were found: low-stable, average-increasing, and high-decreasing. Adolescents in low-risk trajectories had better sleep patterns, including shorter sleep latency, longer sleep duration, less sleepiness, and an earlier chronotype. Those with worsening mental health reported worsening sleep patterns, while those with improving mental health had better sleep patterns over time.

The study highlighted two key findings: most adolescents maintained good mental health and sleep habits (low-stable trajectories), while those with worsening mental health also experienced deteriorating sleep patterns and vice versa. These findings underscore the close relationship between sleep and mental health, suggesting that healthy sleep patterns can be protective of mental health during stressful periods like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reference: Bauducco S, Gardner LA, Smout S, et al. Adolescents’ trajectories of depression and anxiety symptoms prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic and their association with healthy sleep patterns. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):10764. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-60974-y.