Relationship between mental health and the quality of sleep during the first self-restraint in Japanese workers: a cross-sectional survey

OBJECTIVE: A few surveys have indicated that behavioural restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic have affected sleep and mental health. This study examined (1) the change in sleep-wake habits before and during the first self-restraint in Japan, (2) the factors that affect mental health, and (3) the model of mental health affecting the sleep quality, of workers. DESIGN: A cross-sectional internet survey. OUTCOME MEASURES: A total of 512 Japanese workers self-assessed their sleep quality, loneliness, anxiety, and depression during self-restraint. Their previous sleep habits were also assessed. RESULTS: Sleep habits remained almost regular, but 35.7% of participants reported poor sleep quality. Additionally, among the participants, 82.2% reported social loneliness, 37.9% reported emotional loneliness, 25.6% reported anxiety moods, and 49.0% reported depressive moods. Anxiety and depression were influenced by emotional and social loneliness, and marital status. These results showed that social and emotional loneliness worsened sleep quality with anxiety and depression. On the contrary, emotional loneliness had a significant and direct effect on sleep quality but not on social loneliness. CONCLUSION: This study shows that psychological factors affect subjective sleep quality during self-restraint. Psychological factors, such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression should be considered when maintaining good sleep quality under self-restraint.