Sleep quality of Singapore residents: findings from the 2016 Singapore mental health study

• Published in: Sleep medicine. X Vol. 4; p. 100043
• Main Authors: Lee, Ying Ying, Lau, Jue Hua, Vaingankar, Janhavi Ajit, Sambasivam, Rajeswari, Shafie, Saleha, Chua, Boon Yiang, Chow, Wai Leng, Abdin, Edimansyah, Subramaniam, Mythily
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.12.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Insomnia; Mental health; Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI); Sleep; Sleep quality; Pittsburg sleep quality index (PSQI); Sleep quality; Sleep; Insomnia; Epidemiology; Mental health
• ISSN: 2590-1427; 2590-1427
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleepx.2022.100043

Given the importance of sleep for physical and mental wellbeing, it is crucial to understand the extent of insomnia among community dwellers. However, there is a paucity of population wide epidemiological studies to estimate the prevalence of poor sleep quality. This present study aimed to 1) characterize the sleep quality of a nationally representative sample (n = 6126) of Singapore residents using Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and 2) identify the sociodemographic correlates of poor sleep in this population. A total of 27.6% of respondents reported poor sleep quality (PSQI score ≥5). Sociodemographic correlates of poor sleep quality in the Singapore population included, but were not limited to, females (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.77, p-value = 0.001), Malays (vs Chinese) (AOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.23 to 1.9, p-value < 0.001), Indians (vs Chinese) (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.47, p-value = 0.03), ex-smokers (vs non-smokers) (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.92, p-value = 0.02), persons with comorbid mental health conditions (vs no mental health conditions) (AOR = 14.11, 95% CI = 6.52 to 30.54, p-value < 0.01), and persons with physical multimorbidity (vs no physical conditions) (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.24 to 2.15, p-value < 0.001). The prevalence of poor sleep in Singapore is comparable to that of other countries in the Asian region. Targeted public health campaigns to psycho-educate vulnerable groups on the importance of good sleep hygiene may improve the overall wellbeing of residents in Singapore. •Sleep is important for physical and mental health, however data on population wide prevalence of insomnia is scarce.•Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, we found that 27.6% of this nationally representative sample had poor sleep.•Sociodemographic correlates of poor sleep quality in our population included females, Malays, Indians, and ex-smokers.•Persons with comorbid mental health conditions and physical multimorbidity were found to have poor sleep quality.•Targeted psychoeducation to the relevant subgroups could improve sleep quality of Singapore residents.