Abstract
Objectives
This study aim is to compare anxiety levels among individuals experiencing different
symptoms of insomnia.
Design
Case-control study.
Setting
The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (the HUNT3 study, Norway).
Participants
Of the 50,802 individuals taking part in the HUNT3 study, the current sample comprised
7933 individuals, including 4317 cases with insomnia and 3616 controls.
Measurements
Symptoms of anxiety were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, whereas
insomnia symptoms were assessed according to the core Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, nocturnal symptoms. Anxiety levels of the 4317 individuals reporting at least 1 insomnia
symptom were compared with the 3616 controls reporting no symptoms. Level of anxiety
among participants experiencing combinations of insomnia symptoms was also investigated.
Results
Anxiety levels were significantly higher in individuals reporting insomnia symptoms
(M = 2.5, SD = 2.4) compared to controls (5.5, SD = 3.7, P < .001). Anxiety levels also differed significantly between different insomnia symptoms
(P < .001). Participants reporting all 3 insomnia symptoms had the highest anxiety score
(M = 6.8, SD = 4.3), followed in decreasing order by sleep onset insomnia with terminal
insomnia (M = 6.7, SD = 4.0), sleep onset insomnia with sleep maintenance insomnia (M = 6.3, SD = 3.8), sleep onset insomnia only (M = 5.8, SD = 3.7), sleep maintenance insomnia with terminal insomnia (M = 5.6, SD = SD = 3.4), terminal insomnia (M = 5.2, SD = 3.4), and sleep maintenance insomnia only (M = 4.5, SD = 3).
Conclusions
Difficulties initiating sleep, both alone and in combination with 1 or 2 of the other
symptoms, seem to play a key role in rising anxiety levels.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 07, 2019
Accepted:
January 4,
2019
Received in revised form:
January 2,
2019
Received:
April 17,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 National Sleep Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
