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February 6, 2026Journal of Behavioral MedicineOpen Access

Multidimensional sleep health and resting blood pressure in young adults: the role of negative affect

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Why the study?

Few studies have examined how multidimensional sleep health and negative affect jointly relate to blood pressure in young adults.

Does better multidimensional sleep health improve resting blood pressure in healthy young adults?

Population

129 young adults without diagnosed sleep disorders

Comparison

Sleep health composite index and negative affect indicators

Design

Cross-sectional study

Key result

Better multidimensional sleep health was associated with lower resting systolic blood pressure (B = -1.40) after adjusting for negative affect, an effect significant only among those with lower hostility.

Authors

EPElizabeth J. PantescoEPEthan J. PastorAMAva Minchello

Discussion

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Overview

Does not support changing BP management in young adults; leaves open causality and hostility moderation in prospective studies.

Key Points

  • The aim is to explore the relationship between multidimensional sleep health and resting blood pressure, considering the impact of negative affect.
  • Examined 129 young adults without sleep disorders.
  • Assessed sleep health using actigraphy and self-report metrics.
  • Measured resting blood pressure in a laboratory setting.
  • Applied hierarchical linear regression models adjusting for demographics, BMI, and attitudes toward sleep.
  • Tested negative affect indicators as covariates and moderators.
  • Better sleep health was linked to lower systolic blood pressure after adjusting for negative affect.
  • Significant association observed only among participants with lower levels of hostility.
  • Hostility acted as a moderator in the relationship between sleep health and blood pressure.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=129)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Does better multidimensional sleep health improve resting blood pressure in healthy young adults?

P
Population
129 young adults (mean age 19.2 years, 70.5% female) without diagnosed sleep disorders, undergraduate students at a private university in the northeastern United States.
I
Intervention
Multidimensional sleep health composite index (derived from actigraphy and self-report metrics including regularity, timing, efficiency, duration, satisfaction, and alertness)
O
Outcome
Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured in the laboratorysurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: B = -1.40 (95% CI -2.63, -0.16)

p-value: p=0.03

Better multidimensional sleep health is associated with lower resting systolic blood pressure in young adults, particularly those with lower levels of hostility, highlighting sleep as a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.

Limitations

  • Cross-sectional study design prevents conclusions about causal ordering among variables
  • Young, healthy sample limits generalizability and reduces BP variability
  • Majority of participants were female
  • Inadequately powered to examine variation in associations by race
  • Did not measure medication use or napping
  • Relied on resting BP measurements assessed during a single session rather than ambulatory BP monitoring
  • focus on a university sample
  • lack of longitudinal data

Cite This Study

Pantesco et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young adults (n=129). Multidimensional sleep health composite index was evaluated on Resting systolic blood pressure (B = -1.40, 95% CI -2.63, -0.16, p=0.03). Better multidimensional sleep health was associated with lower resting systolic blood pressure (B = -1.40) after adjusting for negative affect, an effect significant only among those with lower hostility.

synapsesocial.com/papers/698586118f7c464f23009e48https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-026-00633-x
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