THE IMPACT OF SLEEP ON MENTAL HEALTH: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

Patrycja Jagura; Julia Groszewska; Michał Romaniuk; Agata Rapior; Kinga Lubomska; Daria Makowska-Woszczyk; Agata Mytych; Jan Romaniuk; Łukasz Nosek; Marta Dziedziak

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4669

Authors

Patrycja Jagura Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2394-3673
Julia Groszewska Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4637-1264
Michał Romaniuk Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-6002-000X
Agata Rapior Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0300-2303
Kinga Lubomska Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8777-5273
Daria Makowska-Woszczyk Medical University of Lodz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9897-0618
Agata Mytych Wroclaw Medical University, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4575-6327
Jan Romaniuk Medical University of Lublin, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3017-3330
Łukasz Nosek Wroclaw Medical University, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8294-5842
Marta Dziedziak Wroclaw Medical University, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3463-2804

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4669

Keywords:

Sleep, Mental Health, Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Hygiene, Psychiatric Disorders

Abstract

Background: Sleep plays a crucial role in mental health throughout life. Disrupted, insufficient, or irregular sleep has been linked to adverse emotional, cognitive, and psychological outcomes from childhood through older adulthood. Early identification and intervention may mitigate long-term consequences of sleep disturbances.

Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. The review focused on sleep duration, sleep quality, circadian disruption, and their associations with mental health outcomes across different age groups.

Results: Across all life stages, poor sleep was consistently linked to higher risks of depression, anxiety, cognitive impairments, and subclinical psychotic symptoms. Vulnerability was particularly pronounced in adolescents, young adults, and older adults. The relationship between sleep and mental health appeared to be bidirectional, with sleep disturbances both contributing to and resulting from psychiatric symptoms. Interventions focused on improving sleep, such as sleep hygiene programs and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia, were shown to enhance sleep quality and alleviate a range of mental health difficulties.

Conclusion: Sleep is a modifiable and clinically significant factor for mental health. Integrating sleep assessment and interventions into routine mental health care, along with public education and population-level strategies, may substantially enhance mental well-being across the lifespan.

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