https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0752-1987
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Qiu-qiang Zheng, Wei-Wei Yang, Shan-Shu He, Yi-Ran Li, Association between sleep duration and depression in adolescents and young adults: a system review of observational studies and a genetic research of Mendelian randomization analysis, Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2025;, qgaf013, https://doi.org/10.1093/postmj/qgaf013
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Abstract
This study aimed to explore the causal association between sleep duration and depression in adolescents and young adults.
We conducted a systematic review and Mendelian randomization (MR) to research the causal relationship between short sleep duration and adolescent depression risk from an observational and genetic perspective. In the systematic review, we searched observational studies from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. In the MR analysis part, we screened Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) significantly relative to short sleep and conforming MR concept to investigate the genetic causality.
All research evidence shows that adolescents who sleep <6 h have the highest rates of depression. According to the MR result, short sleep duration significantly affected the depression risk (odds ratio, 1.034; 95% confidence interval, 1.012–1.058, P = .003). Sleep duration of 7–8 h has the lowest depression incidence. Insufficient sleep (≤6 h) and excessive sleep (≥8 h) also elevates adolescent depression risk. Genetic evidence shows that short sleep duration (<6 h) has significant causal effects on depression risk.
Sleep duration was causally associated with depression in adolescents and young adults. Sleep duration of <6 h or >8 h daily increases the depression risk in adolescents and young adults.
What is already known on this topic?—Observational studies recognized the relationship between sleep duration and depression in adolescents and young adults. The causal association needs further exploration by MR analysis.
What does this study add?—This study showed a significant causal relationship between genetically predicted short sleep duration and an increased depression risk in adolescents and young adults.
How this study might affect research, practice, or policy?—The recognition of the causal association between short sleep duration and depression can provide adolescents and young adults with a suitable suggestion for sleep management.
