Stress levels are associated with poor sleep health among sexual minority men in Paris, France

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the association between perceived stress and sleep health among a sample of sexual minority men (SMM).

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Paris, France.

Participants: Gay, bisexual and other SMM users ≥18 years on a geosocial networking application in Paris, France (N = 580).

Measurements: Participants were directed to a web-based survey measuring stress, sleep health, and socio-demographics. Multivariate log-binomial regression models were used to estimate the adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to examine how stress may affect different dimensions of sleep health: 1) poor sleep quality, 2) short sleep duration, 3) problems falling asleep, and 4) problems staying awake in the daytime.

Results: Most participants (69.9%) reported at least sometimes feeling stressed (compared to never or rarely). Additionally, results demonstrate that higher perceived stress was associated with poorer sleep health; compared with those who reported feeling stress never or rarely, those who felt stress sometimes, often, or always were more likely to experience poor sleep quality (aRR = 6.67; 95% CI = 3.61-12.3), short sleep duration (aRR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.17-2.38), problems falling asleep (aRR = 3.20; 95% CI = 2.26-4.52), and problems staying awake during the daytime (aRR = 3.52; 95% CI = 1.64-7.53).

Conclusion: Elevated perceived stress can negatively influence sleep health among SMM in Paris, France.

Keywords: Paris France; Poor sleep health; Sexual minority men (SMM); Stress.