Association between meeting sleep guidelines and anxiety symptoms among Physician assistants in Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Sleep is an important determinant of mental health, yet evidence among healthcare professionals in sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. This study examined the association between adherence to recommended sleep duration guidelines and anxiety symptoms among Physician Assistants in Ghana.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary analysis of primary data collected from 439 Physician Assistants in Ghana between October and December 2024. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), with scores ≥8 indicating anxiety symptoms. Sleep duration was self-reported and categorized as meeting (7-9 h/night) or not meeting (< 7 h/night) recommended sleep guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations while adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, environmental, and climatic factors.

RESULTS

Overall, 31.9% of participants met the recommended sleep duration guideline, while 23.5% reported anxiety symptoms. In adjusted analyses, meeting the recommended sleep guidelines (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26-0.78) was associated with lower odds of anxiety symptoms. This was confirmed in a sensitivity analysis of sleep duration (hours/day) and anxiety symptoms scores (β = -0.69, 95% CI: -1.01, -0.38). Conversely, practicing in urban settings was associated with higher odds of anxiety symptoms (aOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.13-4.16).

CONCLUSIONS

Adequate sleep may be an important modifiable factor associated with mental health among Physician Assistants in Ghana. Efforts to support healthy sleep behaviors and create supportive environments may contribute to improved mental health among this population. Future research should include diverse cadres of healthcare professionals and consider a 24-h movement behavior approach.