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SLEEP AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHM DISRUPTION AS PREDICTORS OF SUICIDAL IDEATION: A MULTI-METHOD INVESTIGATION
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Thesis/Dissertation
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2025-08
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Psychology
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https://doi.org/10.34944/k89z-bh51
Abstract
Prevalence rates of suicidal ideation (SI) have increased over the past several decades, signifying a need for further research into novel risk factors to improve the prediction and prevention of SI. There is increased interest in the study of indicators of risk that do not rely on an individual disclosing their internal experience. One such potential risk factor is sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance, which is common among psychiatric populations. There is a paucity of research evaluating longitudinal associations between a comprehensive array of sleep and circadian indices and SI. This study assessed concurrent and prospective associations between a comprehensive set of sleep and circadian measures and SI among adolescents, due to the heightened risk for SI during this important developmental period. A sample of 301 community-based adolescents (M age = 15.53, SD=1.02; 59.80% female; 56.81% White) at-risk for mood disorders completed self-report measures of sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, negative life events, and suicidal ideation. Participants also wore an actiwatch for one week to objectively measure indices of sleep health. A subset (n=123) of the sample reported circadian preference and provided saliva samples to measure dim-light melatonin onset, an indicator of circadian phase. Suicidal ideation was assessed again at a six-month follow-up.
Sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, self-reported sleep quality, and quantity of negative sleep health characteristics were associated with concurrent SI, but the majority of the associations were reduced to nonsignificance once depressive symptoms and negative life events were covaried. Circadian rhythm disruption did not emerge as a correlate or risk factor for SI. Although sleep disruption appears to be a correlate of SI, the current evidence does not support a causal role for sleep or circadian rhythms in the course of SI, except for wake after sleep onset. More research with clinical populations assessing SI at a shorter timeframe is indicated.
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