Alcohol Use and Sleep in Women: Results of a Cross-sectional Survey

Keywords

sleep - alcohol use - woman - sleepiness

Introduction: Women of reproductive age present specific sleep characteristics when compared with men, including a higher prevalence of insomnia, sleep dissatisfaction and more sleep complaints. Alcohol use and abuse, which has increased among women in the last decades, might worsen these sleep-related symptoms.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate effects of alcohol use on sleep characteristics on a sample of women of reproductive age.

Methods: The original sample comprised 2,055 women of reproductive age, from 18 to 40 years, who responded to an online questionnaire between 2016 and 2017. Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was analyzed using with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and insomnia symptoms were evaluated with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Sleep Efficiency (SE) was calculated using self-reported bedtime, awakening time and total sleep time (TST). Alcohol use was assessed according to the self-reported use pattern in the last 3 months. The effects of alcohol use on ISI and ESS score, TST and SE were analyzed using Linear Regression Models and significance level was established as p < 0.05.

Results: Daily or almost daily alcohol use was associated with reduced SE (B = -0.63 [-1.14; 0.11], p < 0.05). Drinking 5 or more doses in a single occasion was associated with increased EDS (B = 0.14 [0; 0.27], p < 0.05). Drinking 5 or more doses in a weekly basis was an associated with increase of TTS (B = 0.24 [0.04; 0.24], p < 0.05), however, no significant difference was found in SE in this group (B = -0.09 [-0.29;0.12], p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Based on this online survey, we found a significant relationship between worse sleep pattern and alcohol use among women of reproductive age, mainly including reduced SE and increased EDS.

Support:

AFIP, CNPq, and CAPES.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
15 June 2023