Sleep Problems and Psychological Well-Being: Baseline Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging

International studies have demonstrated associations between sleep problems and poor psychological well-being; however, Canadian data are limited. This study investigated this association using cross-sectional baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a national survey of 30,097 community-dwelling adults, 45-85 years of age. Short sleep duration, sleep dissatisfaction, insomnia symptoms, and daytime impairment were consistently associated with a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction with life, psychological distress, and poor self-reported mental health. Long sleep duration was associated with a higher prevalence of psychological distress and poor self-reported mental health, but not with dissatisfaction with life. Associations between sleep problems and psychological distress were 11-18 per cent stronger in males. With each 10-year increase in age, the association between daytime impairment and life dissatisfaction increased by 11 per cent, and insomnia symptoms and poor mental health decreased by 11 per cent. Sleep problems in middle-aged and older adults warrant increased attention as a public health problem in Canada.

Automated summary

International studies have shown a link between sleep problems and poor psychological well-being, including dissatisfaction with life, psychological distress, and poor self-reported mental health. This Canadian study using baseline data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging further supports these associations and highlights the importance of addressing sleep problems as a public health concern, particularly in middle-aged and older adults. The study also found that the associations between sleep problems and psychological distress were stronger in males and that age played a role in the relationship between sleep problems and life dissatisfaction and mental health outcomes.