A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between sleep duration/quality, mental toughness and resilience amongst healthy individuals.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational (cross-sectional and prospective) studies
PubMed 35462348 · doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2022.101593
What was done
Authors systematically searched eight electronic databases and grey literature through April 2021 examining sleep duration and/or quality in relation to mental toughness and resilience in healthy populations. Out of 1,925 identified records, 68 studies met eligibility criteria and 63 were included in the meta-analysis.
What was found
Pooled results showed weak positive correlations between sleep duration and resilience (r = 0.11, p < 0.001) and between sleep quality and resilience (r = 0.27, p < 0.001). In prospective studies, the correlation between sleep quality and resilience was slightly attenuated (r = 0.18, p < 0.001). Evidence of high publication bias was observed for sleep quality and resilience studies. Quantitative results for mental toughness were not reported in the abstract.
Why it matters
This review synthesizes evidence connecting sleep parameters to positive psychological traits in healthy individuals rather than focusing purely on negative health outcomes.
Limits
Most underlying studies appear observational, correlations are weak, and high publication bias was detected. The abstract does not provide total participant count, objective sleep measurements, or numerical values for mental toughness. Results cannot be generalized to clinical populations or individuals experiencing extreme hardship.
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