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Sleep hygiene - What do we mean? A bibliographic review
Carla De Pasquale1, Mary El Kazzi1, Kate Sutherland1
1Sleep Research Group, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.
Sleep Medicine Reviews
|May 18, 2024
Summary
This study found inconsistent definitions for sleep hygiene and its components across 548 published research papers. This lack of clarity may limit the effectiveness of sleep hygiene interventions.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Science
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Sleep hygiene is a widely discussed topic, yet its definition and components lack consensus.
- Understanding the established definitions and common components of sleep hygiene is crucial for research and clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically examine the definition and components of sleep hygiene as used in published scientific literature.
- To identify inconsistencies in the definition and application of sleep hygiene across observational and intervention studies.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four major databases (Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL) up to December 31, 2021.
- The search focused on studies using the exact phrase 'sleep hygiene' in the title or abstract, identifying 548 relevant adult studies.
- Definitions and components of sleep hygiene were extracted and analyzed from the selected studies.
Main Results:
- Only 44% of the 548 identified studies provided a definition for sleep hygiene, converging on behavioral, environmental, and control factors.
- Explicit definitions for sleep hygiene components were present in 70% of observational studies but only 35% of intervention studies.
- Commonly cited components included caffeine, alcohol, exercise, and sleep timing, though specific details varied significantly.
Conclusions:
- The lack of consistent definitions for sleep hygiene and its components hinders effective communication among researchers, clinicians, and the public.
- Inconsistent definitions may limit the practical utility and effectiveness of sleep hygiene as a therapeutic intervention.
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