The prevalence of among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic was 5.4%.
Depression was inversely correlated with , indicating that students with depressive symptoms tended to have a later sleep preference.
Depression was positively correlated with sleep quality, suggesting that those with depressive symptoms experienced poorer sleep quality.
A later chronotype and poor sleep quality were identified as predictors of suicidal ideation.
Depression was found to be a direct and significant risk factor for suicidal ideation.
Chronotype and sleep quality may mediate the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation, though their combined mediating effect was not statistically significant.
Simplified
BACKGROUND: This study was intended to investigate the correlation between depression and among Chinese college students during the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential mediating roles of and sleep quality in this relationship .
METHODS: A sample of 4,768 college students was selected from four institutions in Anhui Province, China, and the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (November to December 2020) using a stratified, cluster, multi-stage sampling method. This study used the two-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) to assess depressive symptoms, the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire 19 (MEQ-19) to determine individual sleep chronotypes (i.e., morning or evening preference), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality. Participants were asked about suicidal ideation. MPLUS 8.3 software was used to analyze the mediating effect of chronotype and sleep quality on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation.
RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of suicidal ideation among Chinese college students was 5.4%. Depression was inversely correlated with chronotype (beta = - 0.346, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with sleep quality (beta = 0.846, P < 0.001), indicating that students experiencing depressive symptoms were more likely to have a later chronotype and poor sleep quality. A later chronotype (beta = - 0.019, P < 0.05) and poor sleep quality (beta = 0.066, P < 0.01) predicted suicidal ideation. Depression emerged as a direct and significant risk factor for suicidal ideation (effect value = 0.535, 95% confidence interval: 0.449 ~ 0.622). Chronotype and sleep quality were found to have potential mediating effects on the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation; however, the chain-mediating effect of chronotype and sleep quality was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic, depression can precipitate suicidal ideation through its influence on sleep chronotype and quality. These compelling findings highlight the urgency of early intervention strategies intended to mitigate suicidal thoughts, particularly among students exhibiting depressive symptoms, who experience disrupted sleep patterns and poor sleep quality.
Key numbers
5.4%
Prevalence of
Among Chinese college students surveyed
0.535
Effect value of depression on
Measured effect size in the study
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