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Sex-Specific Moderation Effect of Age on the Associations Between Insomnia Symptoms and Various Psychological Distresses
Authors Chen HC, Wu CY, Lee MB, Liao SC, Chan CT, Chen CY
Received 20 August 2020
Accepted for publication 4 January 2021
Published 28 January 2021 Volume 2021:13 Pages 93—102
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S277530
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Sarah Appleton
Hsi-Chung Chen,1,2 Chia-Yi Wu,3– 5 Ming-Been Lee,1,5– 7 Shih-Cheng Liao,1,5,6 Chia-Ta Chan,5,7 Chun-Ying Chen5
1Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 2Center of Sleep Disorders, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 3School of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; 4Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; 5Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center, Taipei, Taiwan; 6Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; 7Department of Psychiatry, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Correspondence: Chia-Yi Wu
School of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No.1, Sec. 1, Jen-A1 Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Tel +886-2-23123456 ext. 88430
Email jennycyw@ntu.edu.tw Ming-Been Lee
Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan S. Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
Tel +886-2-23123456 Ext. 66784
Email mingbeen@ntu.edu.tw
Background: Insomnia is closely related to psychological distress. This study aims to examine the role of age and sex in the association between various psychological distresses and insomnia symptoms.
Participants and Methods: This population-based study used data provided by cumulative respondents of the annual survey of the Taiwan Suicide Prevention Center between 2006 and 2019. Potential respondents were aged ≥ 15 years and were selected by a stratified proportional randomization method according to the distribution of population size, sex, and age in different geographic areas of Taiwan. The Five-Item Brief Symptom Rating Scale was used to measure insomnia symptoms and four psychological distresses: depression, anxiety, hostility, and inferiority. The independent relationship between insomnia symptoms with depression, anxiety, hostility, and inferiority was further examined according to age and sex.
Results: A total of 28,649 participants were included (women, 50.2%). The four types of psychological distress correlated differentially with insomnia symptoms. Concerning interaction effects, sex moderated the interaction effects between age with depression, anxiety, and hostility. In men, and not in women, age moderated the relationship between insomnia symptoms and all four psychological distresses. Specifically, the effect sizes of the associations between insomnia symptoms and depression, anxiety, and hostility showed an age-dependent decreasing trend in men.
Conclusion: The associations between psychological distresses and insomnia symptoms varied in strength and according to age in a sex-specific manner.
Keywords: insomnia symptoms, moderation effect, psychological distress, sex-specific
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