An Exploratory Investigation of Sleep Disturbance in the Pathogenesis of Depression

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bauer, Gordon

Keywords

Sleep, Depression, Stress

Area of Concentration

Biological Psychology

Abstract

The relationships among stress, sleep, and depression were examined to understand the role of sleep in the etiology of depression. A sample of 335 participants, age range 18-29 years, completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Perceived stress, sleep quality, and sleep duration predicted levels of depression. Sleep quality and duration interacted with perceived stress and levels of depression. As sleep quality worsened or duration decreased, levels of depression increased much more rapidly. Sleep disruption should no longer be considered a stress-related outcome, but rather a biological stressor in itself that can lead to the development and maintenance of depression.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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