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Advanced Neurology PSG findings in young poor sleepers

Figure 1. Comparison of sleep parameters between study and normative values
Notes: N1: Non-REM stage 1; N2: Non-REM stage 2; N3: Non-REM stage 3.
Abbreviations: REM: Rapid eye movement; ROL: Rapid eye movement onset latency; SE: Sleep efficiency; SOL: Sleep onset latency; TST: Total sleep time;
WK: Wakefulness.

vs. 9.50 ± 6.60%; t = 11.12, p<0.001), showing a mean 4.1.1. Sleep continuity and timing alterations
difference of +3.38%, which represents a large effect size The observed reduction in TST by approximately 40.45 min
(Cohen’s d = 0.70). Conversely, REM sleep was significantly constitutes a clinically meaningful deficit, suggesting
reduced in participants compared to normative values that the study participants did not meet recommended
(14.00 ± 1.50% vs. 19.70 ± 4.30%; t = −21.53, p<0.001), sleep durations. This aligns with broader epidemiological
with a mean difference of −5.70% that represents a very findings indicating that young adults often experience
large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.89).
chronic sleep restriction, which may adversely impact
4. Discussion cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and long-
term health outcomes. 17
4.1. Principal findings and clinical significance
Prolonged SOL and ROL further underline
This study represents a comprehensive polysomnographic disturbances in sleep initiation and stage transition.
analysis of young adult males with subjective sleep Delayed sleep initiation may reflect underlying issues
complaints, compared against age- and sex-matched with circadian misalignment or heightened pre-sleep
normative values. Previous research has predominantly arousal, commonly influenced by lifestyle factors such
utilized self-report or focused metrics, limiting insight as screen exposure and stress. These disruptions in
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into full-spectrum architectural deviations. The sleep timing, particularly the 22.76-min delay in REM
polysomnographic findings reveal a complex pattern of onset, carry significant implications for processes such as
sleep architecture alterations in young adult males with emotional memory consolidation and mood regulation,
poor subjective sleep quality. The combination of reduced as REM sleep is instrumental in these domains. Despite
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TST, prolonged sleep, and REM latencies, altered sleep stage these disturbances, participants exhibited high SE, which
distributions, and paradoxically high SE (89.70% vs. 84.40% traditionally signifies good sleep continuity. However, this
normative) suggests fundamental disturbances in both sleep high SE coexists with reduced TST and prolonged latencies,
initiation processes and sleep architecture organization. suggesting that while sleep is sustained once achieved, its
The very large effect sizes observed for N1 sleep increase initiation and duration are impaired. This paradox is the
(Cohen’s d = 2.18), REM sleep reduction (Cohen’s d = 1.89), characteristic of early morning awakenings or fragmented
and TST reduction (Cohen’s d = 1.23) indicate clinically sleep patterns, which can impair subjective restfulness
meaningful alterations that extend beyond statistical even when objective efficiency appears preserved. 20
significance. These findings suggest that subjective
reports of poor sleep quality in young males correspond 4.1.2. Sleep architecture disturbances
to objective, measurable changes in sleep architecture that The increase in N1 sleep by 5.32% (d = 2.18) indicates a
may have important implications for daytime functioning shift toward lighter and potentially less restorative sleep,
and long-term health outcomes. reflecting heightened arousal states during sleep. The
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Volume 4 Issue 4 (2025) 72 doi: 10.36922/an.8614