Sleep, chronotype, social jetlag, and mental health in resident physicians: a cross-sectional study

Social jetlag, the difference between imposed and endogenous sleep schedules, may be detrimental to resident physicians' health. The current profiles of sleep habits, particularly the differences between workdays and free days, are unknown in that population. This cross-sectional study of Quebec resident physicians aimed at assessing sleep habits on workdays and free days and predictors of social jetlag.

Residents were recruited via their residency programs and social media to complete an online questionnaire. Measures included means of sleep duration and timing, chronotype, sleep debt, sleep disturbances, and social jetlag. A range of sociodemographic variables, lifestyle characteristics, and mental health indicators were examined as predictors of severe social jet lag using logistic regressions.

A total of 492 residents were included in the study (mean [standard deviation] age, 27.6 [3.6] years; 330 females [67.1%]). The mean sleep duration was 7.15 hours (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.02-7.28 hours) on workdays and 8.36 hours (95% CI, 8.18-8.54 hours) on free days. The mean sleep debt was 1.59 hours (95% CI, 1.37-1.81 hours), and mean social jetlag was 1.37 hours (95% CI, 1.28-1.47 hours), with 31.9% (95% CI, 25.0-39.6%) of residents experiencing ≥2 hours of sleep debt and 21.8% (95% CI, 16.5-28.3%) experiencing severe social jetlag. The prevalence of sleep disturbances was 51.7% (95% CI, 44.4-58.8%). Severe social jetlag was associated with earlier stage of training, later chronotype, decreased physical activity, increased sleep debt, and depressive symptoms.

Many residents experience severe social jetlag, chronic sleep deprivation, and sleep disturbances. Importantly, severe social jetlag was associated with depressive symptoms, suggesting a potential intervention target for promoting residents' mental health.

Moderie C, Paradis C, Philippe FL, Geoffroy M-C, Guay E, Paquin V. Sleep, chronotype, social jetlag, and mental health in resident physicians: a cross-sectional study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(12):1915-1922.