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Association between obstructive sleep apnea risk and stress in middle-aged Koreans
Do Heon Lim1, Min Soo Kim1, Gyeong Min Lee2
1Department of Health Administration, College of Health Science, Dankook University, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Health Psychology
|December 31, 2025
Summary
Individuals at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to experience high stress levels. This highlights the importance of addressing mental health in OSA prevention and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with significant physical and mental health comorbidities.
- Understanding the relationship between OSA risk and psychological factors like stress is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and perceived stress levels in a South Korean adult population.
- To determine if OSA risk is an independent predictor of perceived stress.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 2019 national survey data from 3689 middle-aged South Koreans.
- Assessed OSA risk using the STOP-Bang questionnaire.
- Measured perceived stress through self-report questionnaires.
Main Results:
- A significant proportion (29.6%) of individuals at risk for OSA reported high stress, compared to 16.2% of those not at risk (OR = 1.85, p < 0.0001).
- The association between OSA risk and perceived stress remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors.
- Job type did not emerge as a statistically significant differentiating factor in stress levels related to OSA risk.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with a higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea are significantly more likely to report experiencing stress.
- The findings underscore the importance of integrating mental health assessments, particularly stress evaluation, into the management of individuals at risk for OSA.
- Stress may be a co-occurring condition with OSA, necessitating its consideration in prevention and treatment strategies.
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