Relationship Between Sleep Time and Depressive Symptoms in Middle-Aged and Elderly Chinese: Mediating Role of Body Pain

Objective: Existing research has yet to adequately examine the correlation between sleep time, body pain, and depressive symptoms. This study seeks to elucidate the interconnections between these three elements. Methods: The study used 2020 CHARLS data for analysis. To assess the intricate association among sleep time, body pain, and depressive symptoms, the study employed Spearman correlation analysis, multiple logistic regression, restricted cubic splines, and mediation effect analysis based on bootstrap testing. Results: Risk factors for depressive symptoms in middle-aged and elderly Chinese include physical pain and reduced sleep duration. Results from the RCS suggest that the lowest risk of depressive symptoms occurs when the sleep time for the middle-aged and elderly population is approximately 7.5 hours. Body pain accounts for a 19.05% mediating effect between sleep time and depressive symptoms, and even after controlling confounding factors, there remains a 7.5% mediating effect. Conclusion: The research findings indicate that there is a significant correlation among sleep time, body pain, and depressive symptoms. Insufficient sleep time and body pain can lead to depressive symptoms. Body pain plays a partial mediating role between sleep time and depressive symptoms.