Interaction between experiential avoidance and insufficient sleep duration on depressive symptoms in college students

Objective:To investigate the relationship between experiential avoidance, insufficient sleep duration, and depressive symptoms among college students, as well as their interaction on depressive symptoms. Methods:The students from seven comprehensive universities in Shandong, Jilin and Shaanxi Provinces were investigated by using a mental health literacy questionnaire on the online platform of Questionnaire Star. Data collected included general demographic information, experiential avoidance, sleep duration, and depressive symptoms of the participants. The logistic regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between experiential avoidance, insufficient sleep duration, and depressive symptoms. The interaction was assessed using additive interaction analysis for experiential avoidance and insufficient sleep duration. Results:A total of 4,803 college students were included, comprising 2,207 males (45.95%) and 2,596 females (54.05%), with an age range of 18-26 years. The logistic regression model showed that moderate level, medium-high level, and high level experiential avoidance were all associated with depressive symptoms compared with low levels (P＜0.001), and insufficient sleep duration was associated with depressive symptoms (P＜0.001). Interaction analysis revealed additive interactions between medium-high level and high-level experiential avoidance and insufficient sleep duration. Conclusion:Experiential avoidance and insufficient sleep duration are related to depressive symptoms in college students, and there is a mutual influence between medium- high level and high- level experiential avoidance and insufficient sleep duration.