Study of the association between cannabis use and sleep disturbances in a large sample of University students. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coelho, Julien; Montagni, Ilaria; Micoulaud-Franchi, Jean-Arthur; Plancoulaine, Sabine; Tzourio, Christophe
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 322(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: Sleep -- Cannabis -- Mental health -- Students -- Cross-sectional study -- Insomnia; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115096
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Highlights: Sleep disturbances and cannabis use are common among University students. Insomnia is more common among weekly and daily cannabis users. A 2-fold higher likelihood of insomnia is observed among daily cannabis users. This relationship is not explained by mental health disorders. Results were similar for other sleep disturbances. Abstract: Sleep complaints and cannabis use are common among University students and are related to detrimental effects on health. The aim of this study was to explore their association. This cross-sectional study based on the i-Share e-cohort included French students between 18 and 30 years old ( n = 14, 787). Frequency of cannabis use was categorized into daily, weekly, monthly, and never/rarely use. Sleep complaints were defined using four items (i.e., insomnia, sleepiness, poor sleep quality, and sleep deprivation). In the whole sample (mean age: 20.4 years, 75.5% of females), 22.7% had insomnia, 18.3% had sleepiness, 22.4% had poor sleep quality, 52.5% had sleep deprivation, and 5.8% used cannabis weekly or daily. After adjustment, the likelihood of insomnia was significantly higher by 45% in cannabis users compared to non-users. The estimates steadily increased with frequency of use, reaching a 2.0-fold higher likelihood of insomnia in daily users compared to never/rarely users. Results were similar for the other sleep complaints. These findings provide support for an association between cannabis use and sleep complaints, particularly insomnia, among University students. Though direction and causality cannot be established in this setting, these results suggest warning students and health professionals about the association between cannabis use and sleep complaints. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract