Associations of psychological resilience with macro- and microstructures in NREM and REM sleep in adolescents

Abstract

Study objectives: Previous evidence suggest that sleep contributed to resilience. However, specific sleep markers for resilience in adolescents remain unknown. This study aimed to examine the associations between macro- and microstructures of sleep with resilience in healthy adolescents. This study hypothesized that specific features of both NREM and REM sleep were associated with resilience in healthy adolescents. Methods: Forty-two healthy adolescents (Mean age: 15.98 years, SD: 2.16 years; female: 57.1 %) were included in this study. Adolescents with any diagnosed sleep or psychiatric disorders were excluded. Participants completed questionnaires that assessed resilience capacity and outcome, childhood trauma, and mental well-being, and underwent polysomnography. Resilience capacity was defined using the score of the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents (RSCA). Resilience outcome was calculated by the residual approach in a linear model using mental well-being (KIDSCREEN) as dependent variable and childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire) as independent variable. NREM and REM sleep macrostructures and microstructures were calculated. Results: The results showed that higher fast beta power (24–32 Hz) in REM sleep and longer spindle duration in NREM sleep were significantly associated with higher resilience capacity. However, slow wave sleep properties were not associated with either resilience capacity or resilience outcome. In addition, macrostructures of sleep did not differ across resilience groups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that microstructures of both REM and NREM sleep could serve as biomarkers for resilience. This study could potentially pave the way for prevention and intervention strategies of stress-related disorders in adolescents.