Effect of COVID-19 lockdown on sleep quality, sleep duration and acute stress in Indian young adults

Abstract The COVID-19 lockdown brought disruptions to daily life and social schedules which influenced sleep and stress. Young adults, already vulnerable to irregular sleep patterns and heightened psychological stress, may have experienced notable shifts in sleep quality, duration, and circadian alignment during this period. Seventy-nine urban young adults (18–25 years) provided matched pre-lockdown and during-lockdown data via an online survey. Measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Berlin Questionnaire for OSA risk, the National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESS-S), and self-reported height and weight for BMI. Social jet lag was derived from sleep timing. Within-participant changes were tested using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests; univariate and multivariate logistic regressions identified predictors of OSA risk. No significant changes were observed in PSQI scores, subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, acute stress, or social jet lag during lockdown. Sleep duration increased slightly, and BMI and social jet lag showed small numerical rises without statistical significance. OSA risk was positively associated with acute stress (p < 0.001), higher BMI (p < 0.05), and poor sleep quality (p < 0.001). In multivariate models, poor sleep quality was the strongest independent predictor of OSA risk, followed by acute stress and BMI. Lifestyle factors, including physical activity, screen time, and ambient noise, showed no significant associations. Flexible schedules during lockdown may have offset expected negative impacts on sleep and stress in this demographic. The strong links between OSA risk, poor sleep quality, and acute stress highlight the need for integrated behavioural and physiological approaches to sleep health in young adults.