The Roles of Sleep and Metabolic Syndrome on Depression Scores
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
28-4-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
28-4-2026 2:00 PM
Description
Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of biochemical and physiological abnormalities typically involving three of five possible risk factors. Depression has been shown to have a bidirectional relationship with both insomnia and metabolic syndrome (Rothorst, 2017; Stieger & Pawlowski, 2019).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between weekday sleep duration, depression scores, and MetS status. Additionally, the current study aims to investigate whether MetS interacts with sleep duration to influence depression outcomes. By analyzing these variables, the study aims to better understand how sleep patterns relate to depressive symptoms and whether metabolic health mediates this relationship.
Methods: We used datasets from the CDC's NHANES 2021–2023 reporting cycle to identify relationships between the amount of sleep, depression scores, and MetS. Respondents were divided into three groups based on their amount of weekday sleep. A two-way ANOVA was used to investigate potential group differences, along with post hoc analyses utilizing Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) tests to identify the specific group differences with respect to the identified variables.
Results: A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of weekday sleep on depression scores, F(2, 1609) = 31.30, p < .001, ω² = 0.036. Post-hoc tests showed all groups (Average, High, Low) differed significantly. No main effect for MetS scores or an interaction effect was revealed.
Discussion: Weekday sleep duration was linked to depression scores, revealing a U-shaped pattern where average sleepers fared best. Both short and long sleepers reported higher depression, regardless of metabolic status, though the modest effect size reminds us that sleep is just one piece of the puzzle.
Recommended Citation
Vo, Danny; Love-Benoit, Victoria; Batiste, Darrien; and Hebert, George, "The Roles of Sleep and Metabolic Syndrome on Depression Scores" (2026). School of Allied Health Professions Research Day. 18.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/ahrd/2026/posters/18
The Roles of Sleep and Metabolic Syndrome on Depression Scores
Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of biochemical and physiological abnormalities typically involving three of five possible risk factors. Depression has been shown to have a bidirectional relationship with both insomnia and metabolic syndrome (Rothorst, 2017; Stieger & Pawlowski, 2019).
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between weekday sleep duration, depression scores, and MetS status. Additionally, the current study aims to investigate whether MetS interacts with sleep duration to influence depression outcomes. By analyzing these variables, the study aims to better understand how sleep patterns relate to depressive symptoms and whether metabolic health mediates this relationship.
Methods: We used datasets from the CDC's NHANES 2021–2023 reporting cycle to identify relationships between the amount of sleep, depression scores, and MetS. Respondents were divided into three groups based on their amount of weekday sleep. A two-way ANOVA was used to investigate potential group differences, along with post hoc analyses utilizing Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) tests to identify the specific group differences with respect to the identified variables.
Results: A two-way ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of weekday sleep on depression scores, F(2, 1609) = 31.30, p < .001, ω² = 0.036. Post-hoc tests showed all groups (Average, High, Low) differed significantly. No main effect for MetS scores or an interaction effect was revealed.
Discussion: Weekday sleep duration was linked to depression scores, revealing a U-shaped pattern where average sleepers fared best. Both short and long sleepers reported higher depression, regardless of metabolic status, though the modest effect size reminds us that sleep is just one piece of the puzzle.