Article 2026 · 1 citations

Sleep quality and general distress in individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: the mediating role of emotion regulation

Aksakal, Erdi, Kaya, Feridun, Aksakal, Alperen

Abstract

Objective Although poor sleep quality has been linked to various psychological difficulties, its specific emotional consequences - particularly in individuals with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) - remain underexplored. This study investigated the mediating role of emotion regulation strategies, as specific components of psychological functioning, in the relationship between sleep quality and psychological distress among patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of OSAS. Method A prospective design was employed with 253 individuals referred to a sleep clinic between May and October 2024 due to symptoms such as witnessed apnoea or excessive daytime sleepiness. Following exclusion criteria (AHI < 5, chronic or psychiatric conditions, and prior treatment), 95 patients (M_age = 52.29, SD = 10.47) were included in the final sample. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). The ERQ consists of two subscales: reappraisal and suppression. Results Suppression and reappraisal were found to fully mediate the direct effect of sleep quality on psychological distress measures. The same outcome was obtained after controlling gender and income level. In brief, poor sleep quality was associated with increased suppression and decreased reappraisal which, in turn, were both related to higher levels of anxiety, depression and stress. Conclusion The current study highlighted that the psychological impact of poor sleep quality in individuals with suspected OSAS operates through specific emotion regulation mechanisms. Particularly, the use of maladaptive (suppression) and adaptive (reappraisal) strategies plays a central role in the link between sleep quality and psychological distress.

Keywords

Sleep quality emotion regulation depression anxiety stress OSAS ANXIETY STRESS SCALES STATISTICAL POWER CPAP THERAPY OF-LIFE DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS DEPRIVATION STRATEGIES IMPACT BRAIN

WoS Categories

Psychology, Multidisciplinary

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Health and Well-being

Citation

Journal: AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGIST
Year: 2026
Volume: 61
Issue: 2
Pages: 211-225
ISSN: 0005-0067
eISSN: 1742-9544
DOI: 10.1080/00050067.2025.2567678
WoS UID: WOS:001586849900001

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