Association between eating disorders and sleep duration among college students: Findings from the National Healthy Minds study.

Abanobi, Amarachi N.; Itacy, Sarah; Coleman, Chad M.; Harlow, Bernard L.

Objectives: Explore associations between eating disorders (EDs) and sleep duration and the impact of depression symptoms (DSs) in American college students. Participants: College students from 2018 to 2019 Healthy Minds Study. Methods: Multivariate logistic regression evaluated associations between EDs (bulimia, anorexia, binge eating [BED]) and sleep duration. Stratified analyses assessed effect modification by DSs and gender. Results: Students reporting any eating disorder had no greater risk of not recommended sleep duration during weekdays compared to those with no eating disorder history (Adjusted OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89-1.13). However, subjects reporting BED were at greater risk of deficient sleep during weekends compared to those with no EDs (Adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01-1.58). This association was not impacted by DSs. However, all EDs were associated with not-recommended sleep duration among those who identified as other gender identity in comparison to those with no EDs. Conclusion: Health educators should monitor academic performance in students with EDs for adequate sleep duration.

UNITED States; RISK assessment; BULIMIA; GENDER identity; MULTIPLE regression analysis; SEX distribution; MULTIVARIATE analysis; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; EATING disorders; SLEEP duration; ODDS ratio; RESEARCH; ANOREXIA nervosa; PSYCHOLOGY of college students; COMPARATIVE studies; CONFIDENCE intervals; MENTAL depression; DISEASE risk factors

Journal of American College Health, 2025, Vol 73, Issue 1, p399

0744-8481

Academic Journal

10.1080/07448481.2023.2225616