Key result
Lower SE4SH sleep self-efficacy scores correlate with poorer subjective sleep quality and daytime function.
Why the study?
Subjective assessments of sleep behaviors provide insight into sleep experiences and may augment objective metrics, prompting the deployment of a novel 24-item tool assessing self-efficacy in influencing sleep-related behaviors and outcomes.
Cohort (n=3,453)
Effect estimate: r=-0.31 (SDI), r=-0.29 (SRI)
The novel SE4SH questionnaire reliably captures self-efficacy regarding sleep outcomes and correlates with established subjective and objective sleep metrics.
Small sex differences in sleep self-efficacy may inform targeted counseling; leaves open the tool's predictive utility pending prospective validation.
Introduction Subjective assessments of sleep behaviors provide meaningful insight into an individual's sleep experiences and may augment objective metrics. We developed a novel, 24-item tool for assessing self-efficacy in influencing sleep related behaviors and outcomes, called the Sleep Efficacy for Sleep Health (SE4SH). This questionnaire considers self-perceived abilities to control caffeine/alcohol intake, timing of exercise, cope with unwanted wakefulness, and other factors. The SE4SH was deployed as part of a study on free-living sleep in a cohort of wearable users. Methods Users of Fitbit wearables participated in a 4-week assessment of sleep under normal free-living conditions in early 2025. At the onset of the trial, users completed the SE4SH questionnaire along with the PROMIS sleep disturbance (SDI) and sleep-related impairment (SRI) questionnaires. Basic demographic and wearable-reported sleep parameters were recorded over the study duration. Results A total of 3,453 users completed the surveys (F=2468/M=981/Other=3, Age=50.3±13.7 yrs, BMI=28.8±6.2). The average raw SE4SH score was 75.9 (on a 24-120 scale). Men reported significantly higher scores than women (78.3 vs 74.9, p< 0.05, Cohen’s d=0.2). The mean PROMIS T-scores for SDI (mean=51.6) and SRI (mean=52.3) indicate a population with mild sleep concerns compared to the expected population average (mean of 50). Lower SE4SH scores correlated negatively with both SDI (r=-0.31) and SRI (r=-0.29), demonstrating that reduced self-efficacy is consistently associated with poorer subjective sleep quality and daytime function. Age had a mild positive association with SE4SH (r=0.05), while a higher bed time variability showed a negative correlation (r=-0.13). Conclusion The SE4SH is a promising survey that reliably captures a person’s beliefs about controlling their sleep outcomes. The observed associations with established subjective metrics (SDI and SRI) and objective markers (main sleep duration and bed-time variability) are consistent with the hypothesis that reduced self-efficacy leads to poorer sleep outcomes. Support (if any) This research was supported by Google.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Schneider et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Sleep health (n=3,453). Sleep Efficacy for Sleep Health (SE4SH) questionnaire was evaluated on Correlation of SE4SH scores with PROMIS sleep disturbance (SDI) and sleep-related impairment (SRI) (r=-0.31 (SDI), r=-0.29 (SRI)). The novel SE4SH questionnaire demonstrated that reduced sleep self-efficacy correlated with poorer subjective sleep quality (SDI r=-0.31) and daytime function (SRI r=-0.29).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: