The relationship between sleep duration and health among Pacific adolescents within New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands families study

Laurie McLay; El-Shadan Tautolo; Leon Iusitini; Rosalina Richards; Barbara Galland; Philip J Schluter

doi:10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100021

The relationship between sleep duration and health among Pacific adolescents within New Zealand: Findings from the Pacific Islands families study

Aust N Z J Public Health. 2023 Apr;47(2):100021. doi: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100021. Epub 2023 Mar 12.

Authors

Laurie McLay¹, El-Shadan Tautolo², Leon Iusitini³, Rosalina Richards⁴, Barbara Galland⁵, Philip J Schluter⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand. Electronic address: laurie.mclay@canterbury.ac.nz.
² AUT Centre for Pacific Health Research, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
³ National Institute for Public and Mental Health Research, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
⁴ The Centre for Pacific Health, Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁵ Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
⁶ Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha, Christchurch, New Zealand; School of Clinical Medicine, Primary Care Clinical Unit, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

PMID: 36917880
DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100021

Abstract

Objective: Sleep insufficiency is bi-directionally associated with adverse behavioural, physical and mental health outcomes in paediatric populations. However, little is known about the degree of sleep insufficiency and its effect on Pacific adolescents' wellbeing.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 14-year old Pacific adolescents nested within a longitudinal birth cohort was conducted. Self-reported sleep duration was related to sentinel physical, mental, and risk taking behaviour measures in crude and adjusted logistic regression models. Complete case and multiple imputed analyses were conducted.

Results: 916 Pacific adolescents were eligible, with a mean age of 14.2 years. Valid sleep data were available from 828 (90.4%) participants, with only 220 (26.6%) meeting the recommended amount of sleep. Insufficient sleep duration was associated with significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms and risk taking behaviours. In multiple imputed analyses, increased body mass index was also significantly related.

Conclusions: Sleep insufficiency is ubiquitous among Pacific adolescents and associated with negative impacts on their health and wellbeing.

Implications for public health: Insufficient sleep duration is amenable to change. Bespoke, culturally responsive public health strategies that draw attention to the importance of positive sleep practices are needed. Particularly, among adolescents who are at risk of experiencing the greatest burden of insufficient sleep.

Keywords: Pacific people; adolescents; mental health; physical health; risk taking; sleep.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
New Zealand / epidemiology
Pacific Islands
Sleep
Sleep Deprivation*
Sleep Duration*