Association between weekend catch-up sleep and depressive symptoms in American adults: Finding from NHANES 2017-2020

The effect of weekend catch-up sleep (WCS) on depressive symptoms is inconsistent among different populations, with limited evidence in Americans. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between WCS and depressive symptoms in American adults.

We recruited 7719 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017-2020. Information on sleep duration and depressive symptoms were assessed by several self-reported questions and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), respectively. Then, WCS duration was calculated as weekend sleep duration minus weekday sleep duration, and WCS was further defined as WCS duration >0 h. Survey designed regression analyses were used to assess the association of WCS and depressive symptoms.

In fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression models, the odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) for depressive symptoms and the β (95 % confidence interval) for PHQ-9 score in response to WCS were 0.746 (0.462, 1.204; P = 0.218) and -0.429 (-0.900, 0.042; P = 0.073), respectively. Besides, the smooth relationship presented L-shaped, and only WCS duration of 0-2 h was statistically significantly associated with depressive symptoms or PHQ-9 score. Subgroup analyses showed that the negative associations were stronger among men, adults younger than 65 years, and those with short weekday sleep duration (P for interaction <0.05).

The cross-sectional design limits the capability for causal relationship between WCS and depressive symptoms.

This study suggests that moderate WCS is associated with reduced odds of depressive symptoms, which provides additional epidemiological evidence for the effects of sleep on depressive symptoms.