What you believe is what you get? A systematic review examining how beliefs and attitudes about sleep are associated with sleep duration in non-clinical samples

Abstract

A burgeoning area of research is investigating whether beliefs and attitudes about sleep are associated with sleep duration in individuals without clinical conditions (e.g., insomnia, depression, anxiety, chronic pain). This review sought to examine and synthesize the extant research in non-clinical samples. A systematic review of the literature following PRISMA guidelines was conducted between March 2024 and May 2024, with 2204 studies screened. Study quality was assessed using NIH's Quality Assessment Tool for Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and NIH's Quality Assessment Tool for Controlled Intervention Studies. Seventeen articles met eligibility criteria. All studies were classified as “fair” or “poor” quality. Studies generally demonstrated that more favorable attitudes and beliefs were associated with appropriate sleep duration. Specific beliefs related to sleep may be differentially associated with sleep duration. Preliminary evidence demonstrated that demographic factors may modify this association. Favorable attitudes toward sleep may be associated with more appropriate sleep duration among individuals without clinical conditions. However, the quality of the extant research was rated poorly, demonstrating a need for additional, higher quality studies. Future studies should consider this relationship while considering demographic factors as this may have important implications for public sleep health efforts.