Adequate sleep is essential for our bodies’ basic health processes, and it is especially important for adolescent and young adult development. A recent study found a correlation between poor sleep and symptoms of muscle dysmorphia, a growing issue among young people. The study, which appeared in the journal Sleep Health, involved more than 900 adolescents and young adults. Over two weeks, those with higher muscle dysmorphia symptoms reported receiving fewer hours of sleep and having difficulty sleeping or staying asleep.
“Poor sleep can have significant negative impacts for adolescents and young adults, including increased negative mental health symptoms,” said lead author Kyle T Ganson, PhD, MSW, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “Poor sleep among those who experience muscle dysmorphia symptoms is concerning as it may exacerbate the functional and social impairment these individuals commonly report, as well as increase suicidal thoughts and behaviours.”
research has also found that poor sleep is a predictor of mental health diagnoses and is linked to symptoms of anxiety, sadness, and psychosis
The prior study supports this source of worry. Previous research suggests that teenagers and young adults sleep fewer than the recommended 7 to 10 hours per night. A large body of research has also found that poor sleep is a predictor of mental health diagnoses and is linked to symptoms of anxiety, sadness, and psychosis. Ganson and his colleagues’ study is the first to look into the link between sleep and muscle dysmorphia. The authors of the study speculate that the processes linking higher muscle dysmorphia symptomatology and poor sleep could be diverse. For example, those who have a larger intolerance for their appearance, indulge in compulsive thinking, and suffer anxiety over their body and muscularity may have difficulty sleeping.
The authors of the study speculate that the processes linking higher muscle dysmorphia symptomatology and poor sleep could be diverse. For example, those who have a larger intolerance for their appearance, indulge in compulsive thinking, and suffer anxiety over their body and muscularity may have difficulty sleeping. Also, for some people, sleep may be displaced by physical activity, such as engaging in muscle-building exercises in the evenings to avoid interfering with vocational commitments.
“Individuals experiencing symptoms of muscle dysmorphia may be more likely to use and consume dietary supplements that are marketed for improving workouts, increasing muscle mass, and accelerating muscle recovery,” said Ganson. “These products tend to have high levels of caffeine or other stimulants, which may negatively impact sleep. In addition, anabolic-androgenic steroids, which are commonly used among people with muscle dysmorphia, have also been shown to negatively impact sleep.”