Stronger Associations Between Sleep and Mental Health in Adults with Autism: A UK Biobank Study

Lisa M Henderson, Michelle St Clair, V Knowland, E van Rijn, M G Gaskell

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Abstract

This study examined sleep and its cognitive and affective correlates in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), utilizing UK Biobank data. There were no group differences in subjective sleep duration [n = 220 ASD; n = 2200 general population (GP)]. Accelerometer measures of sleep duration or nighttime activity did not differ by group, but sleep efficiency was marginally lower in ASD (n = 83 ASD; n = 824 GP). Sleep efficiency was associated with wellbeing and mental health, and pathways between accelerometer sleep measures and wellbeing and mental health were significantly stronger for adults with ASD (who also reported substantially poorer wellbeing and > 5 × likelihood of experiencing mental distress). These findings highlight the need to monitor sleep to maintain good mental health in adult ASD.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1543-1549
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume53
Early online date3 Dec 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by Economic and Social Research Council, ES/N009924/1.

Keywords

  • Accelerometer
  • Actigraphy
  • Autism
  • Mental health
  • Sleep
  • UK Biobank

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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