Loneliness, insomnia symptoms, social jetlag, and vitamin D deficiency in relation to mental health problems in Japanese female university students

A Cross-Sectional Study

Bibliographic Data

ID5165743
AuthorsNodoka Yamashita (Nagasaki University, corresponding author), Shioka Ishii, Yoriko Kotoku (Nagasaki University), Takuya Shuo (0000-0003-0802-582X, Hokuriku University), Hiromi Eto (0000-0002-2652-4000, Nagasaki University), Hideaki Kondo (0000-0003-0856-6650, Nagasaki University Hospital)
Year2025
Volume44
Issue1
Pages19-19
Publication date2025-07-09
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of PHYSIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1880-6791 • E-ISSN: 1880-6805
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1186/s40101-025-00403-9
PMID40635068
OpenAlexW4412153777
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited62

Background Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among Japanese female university students. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with physical and mental health problems, including sleep disorders. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and sleep and mental health problems among Japanese female university students. Methods Participants were 224 female university students. Blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for vitamin D assessment. Mental health was assessed using the K6. Sleep-wake status as a factor related to mental health was assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and Munich ChronoType Questionnaire. Loneliness was assessed using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Factors predicting mental health problems with a K6 score ≥ 5 were explored using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact probability test, and classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. Results The median (interquartile range) serum 25(OH)D concentration was 14.5 (11.8-18.3) ng/mL. Of the participants, 80.8% had vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL), and 26.3% had severe vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL). In total, 41.1% had mental health problems with a K6 score of ≥ 5. Although there was no significant association between vitamin D deficiency and sleep-wake problems, vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent among those with K6 scores ≥ 5 (P = 0.02). Compared to those with K6 < 5, those with K6 ≥ 5 had significantly higher Loneliness and AIS scores (P < 0.001), greater social jetlag (P = 0.03), shorter sleep duration on weekdays (P = 0.03), and lower serum 25(OH)D concentration (P = 0.02). In the CART analysis, the algorithm was set in the order of Loneliness score ≥ 6, AIS score ≥ 7, social jetlag ≥ 150 min, and serum 25(OH)D concentration < 14 ng/mL, and the target accuracy (95% confidence interval: CI) was 76.5 (70.3-81.9)%, and sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were 62.2 (51.4-72.2)% and 86.3 (79.2-91.6)%, respectively. Conclusions Loneliness, insomnia symptoms, social jetlag, and vitamin D deficiency were associated with mental health problems among Japanese female university students

Cross-sectional study · Insomnia · Loneliness · Mental health · Pathology · Psychiatry · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Psychology · Tryptophan and brain disorders · Vitamin D Research Studies

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