Spirituality, Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress of Youths in Hong Kong

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6463-954-4_13How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Spirituality; Sleep quality; Psychological distress

Abstract

This study aims to raise public awareness concerning youth mental health and underscore the importance of spirituality and sleep quality in fostering well-being by examining the relationship between spirituality, sleep quality, and psychological distress. A total of 191 youth samples in Hong Kong, aged 15 to 24 years, were collected, consisting of 40.8% males and 59.2% females. The mean age was 19.32 years, with a standard deviation of 2.42. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21, and the Attitudes Related to Spirituality Scale were utilised in this study. The PROCESS Macro for SPSS v4.2 Model 4 was employed to assess the relationship between spirituality, sleep quality, and psychological distress. Sleep quality is considered a mediator in the relationship between spirituality and psychological distress. In the first model, the results indicated that spirituality is positively related to quality sleep (β = .21, p = .01) but not related to stress (β = .04, p = .64). Moreover, quality sleep is negatively related to stress (β = -.73, p<.001). Spirituality is indirectly associated with stress through quality sleep (β = -.11). In the second model, the results indicated that spirituality is positively related to both quality sleep (β = .21, p = .01) and anxiety (β = .10, p = .04), while quality sleep is negatively related to anxiety (β = -.74, p<.001). The total effect of spirituality on anxiety is insignificant (β = -.05, p = .50). The positive direct effect of spirituality on anxiety (β = .10) suppresses the negative indirect effect on anxiety through quality sleep (β = -.15). In the third model, the results indicated that spirituality is positively related to quality sleep (β = .21, p = .01) but not related to depression (β = .02, p = .73). Moreover, quality sleep is negatively related to stress (β = -.71, p<.001). Spirituality is indirectly associated with depression through quality sleep (β = -.15). The results of the study indicate that spirituality has the potential to enhance sleep quality while concurrently alleviating stress and depression. Interventions that incorporate spiritual practices may be used to enhance mental health among young people. A notable finding from this study indicates that spirituality may exacerbate anxiety. Future studies may investigate the intricate relationship between spirituality and anxiety to ascertain whether the deleterious effects of spirituality fluctuate across different contexts.

Copyright

© 2025 The Author(s)

Open Access

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Shirley Sui-yin Lau
AU  - Raymond Chi-fai Chui
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/29
TI  - Spirituality, Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress of Youths in Hong Kong
BT  - Proceedings of the Positive Psychology 2.0 International Conference 2025 (PP 2.0 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 174
EP  - 186
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-954-4_13
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-954-4_13
ID  - Lau2025
ER  -