INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF SLEEP HEALTH ON POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN KAZAKHSTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health of young adults is an essential issue and especially when young adults are facing the intense academic pressure and personal growth demands. Sleep health matters greatly for emotional regulation, cognitive function and overall quality of life which all are important contributors to flourishing which includes positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment (PERMA). Unfortunately, the relationship between sleep health and flourishing in general, and Kazakhstan context in particular, is mostly overlooked. Therefore, the goal of this study was to explore this connection in order to review insights and recommendations on how to enhance mental well-being of young adults in Kazakhstan. Methods: The cross-sectional pilot study looked at the association between sleep health and flourishing in young adults aged 18 to 35 in Kazakhstan. Online questionnaires were used to collect data, applying the SATED scale to determine sleep health based on: Regularity, Satisfaction, Alertness, Timing, Efficiency, and Duration, and the PERMA-Profiler model to evaluate flourishing. A multivariate linear regression analysis was performed, adjusting by socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics and statistical significance of p<0.05. Results: The mean score of PERMA flourishing was 7.19 (SD=1.51). Overall sleep health (SATED) exhibited a small yet significant positive correlation with flourishing (r=0.173, p<0.05), mostly owing to Sleep Satisfaction (r=0.292, p<0.05), Alertness (r= 0.230, p<0.05), and Duration (r= 0.204 p<0.05). The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that each additional unit of overall sleep health increased flourishing scores (β=0.125 p=0.011). Furthermore, frequent physical activity (daily β=1.043, p=0.001; twice or three times per week β=0.646, p=0.015) and regular healthy eating (always β=1.429, p=0.001; often β=0.548, 2 p=0.014) positively affected flourishing as well. College students had greater flourishing scores compared to bachelors (β=-0.918, p=0.004) and high school students (β=-0.745, p=0.014). Conclusion: In summary, our findings show that sleep health, specifically satisfaction, alertness, and duration, has a significant impact on flourishing among young adults in Kazakhstan. Regular physical activity and a balanced diet are also important for well-being. These findings indicate that public health interventions should focus on modifiable lifestyle behaviours to promote flourishing in this population. Future longitudinal studies should investigate these connections further and evaluate the impact of sleep-focused interventions on long-term mental health.