Adherence to sleep restriction therapy and its impact on emotional intelligence in high-stress professionals

To investigate the relationship between adherence to sleep restriction therapy and emotional intelligence (EI) among Chinese individuals with sleep disorders in high-stress professions.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted using data from the electronic medical records system. A total of 257 patients with sleep disorders who underwent 12 weeks of sleep restriction therapy at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University between January 2022 and January 2023 were included. Participants were classified into low EI (n = 76) and high EI (n = 181) groups. Adherence to therapy was the exposure variable. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using binary logistic regression, with subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

Higher adherence to sleep restriction therapy was significantly associated with higher EI scores. Compared to fully adherent participants, partially adherent individuals had a 2.39-fold increased risk of lower EI (OR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.13-5.05), while non-adherent participants had a 5.35-fold elevated risk (OR = 5.35, 95% CI: 1.86-15.38). Subgroup analyses revealed stronger effects in males and individuals aged < 28 years. Males exhibited ORs of 2.02 (95% CI: 0.87-4.66) for partial adherence and 6.75 (95% CI: 2.00-22.77) for non-adherence. Similarly, the < 45-year subgroup showed ORs of 1.36 (95% CI: 0.61-3.03) and 2.99 (95% CI: 1.04-8.56), respectively. Weaker associations were observed in females and those aged ≥ 45 years.

Better adherence to sleep restriction therapy is positively associated with EI in high-stress professionals with sleep disorders, particularly among males and younger individuals. Optimizing adherence to therapy is a key strategy for improving emotional regulation in these populations.