0979 Insufficient Sleep Duration and Insomnia Symptoms Independently Predict Suicide Ideation in Student Athletes and Non-Athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a major cause of death, especially among young adults. Previous work has shown that poor sleep is an important suicide risk factor. The present study evaluated sleep as risk factors for suicide ideation among college/university students. Method(s): Data from the 2011-2014 National College Health Assessment were used (N=113,185). Self-reported suicide ideation within the past 12 months. SLEEP-DIFFICULTY was assessed with an item indicating that "sleep difficulties" were "particularly traumatic or difficult to handle" in the past 12 months. INSOMNIA was assessed as at least 3 nights/week or "extremely hard time falling asleep." INFUFFICIENT-SLEEP was assessed as number of days/week of not "enough sleep to feel rested." All variables were yes/no except INSUFFICIENT-SLEEP, which was categorized as 0-1 (reference), 2-3, 4-5, or 6-7 nights. Binary logistic regression analyses examined suicide ideation as outcome, sleep variable as predictor, adjusted for age, sex, year in school, depressed mood within the past 30 days, and survey year. Interactions with student athlete status were examined. Result(s): 7.4% reported suicide ideation within the past 12 months. In adjusted models, this was significantly predicted by SLEEPDIFFICULTY (OR=3.01, 95%CI[2.86,3.16], p<0.0001), INSOMNIA (OR=1.95, 95%CI[1.86,2.04], p<0.0001), and INSUFFICIENTSLEEP (4-5 OR=1.41, 95%CI[1.28,1.56), p<0.0001; 6-7 OR=1.92, 95%CI[1.74,2.13], p<0.0001). A sleepXathlete interaction was significant (p<0.0001). Although suicide ideation was less common among athletes, ORs were stronger among athletes for SLEEP-DIFFICULTY (OR=3.38 vs 2.98), and INSUFFICIENT-SLEEP (6-7 OR=2.11 vs 1.91). Of note, when INSOMNIA and INSUFFICIENT-SLEEP were combined in the same model, both remained significant. Conclusion(s): Insomnia and insufficient sleep were both strongly related to suicide ideation. These relationships were stronger among student athletes, even though this group reported less suicide ideation overall.