The Effects of Depression and Fatigue on Gender and Sleep Pattern

   Depression is a medical illness that results in an intense feeling of sadness, a loss of interest in things that one once enjoyed, fatigue, etc, and fatigue is the feeling of tiredness or exhaustion due to a lack of strength or energy that may result from one being overworked, worried, depressed, etc (WebMD, 2004). Depression and fatigue are known to affect men and women differently, with one possible symptom being over sleeping; known as hypersomnia (AllAboutDepression, 2010). In the current study, it is hypothesized that gender differences contributes to the level of depression and fatigue experienced by individuals, which in turn affects individuals total amount of seep time. Twenty two subjects; nine males and thirteen females, between the ages of twenty one and thirty seven (mean age = 26.2 years), completed the study. Subjects filled out a sleep log that consisted of one sleep variable; amount of sleep, as well as the “Fatigue Severity Scale” questionnaire and the “Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale”. Their gender was also documented. A “Bivariate Correlations” design and an “Independent-Samples T Test” design were also employed for analysis. The results show that the level of depression and fatigue experienced by subjects is not significantly affected by gender difference and that when participants sleep more during the nights their level of fatigue and feelings of depression moderately decreases. The findings in this study were not supported by previous literature which suggests that women are twice as likely as men to experience depression and fatigue (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001) and that these feelings do not get better with bed rest but may cause one to feel tired and sluggish (AllAboutDepression, 2010 & KidsHealth, unknown). 

    The effects of depression and fatigue on gender and sleep pattern
According to WebMD (2004), depression is a medical illness that results in an intense feeling of sadness, a loss of interest in things that one once enjoyed, fatigue, etc. Whereas, fatigue is the feeling of tiredness or exhaustion due to a lack of strength or energy that may result from one being overworked, worried, depressed, etc (WebMD, 2004).

   WebMD, 2004 also notes that depression and fatigue, while seeming independent of each other, can also occur in a cycle which makes it difficult to determine whether one causes the other. Findings from researchers were quoted; “people who are depressed are more than four times as likely to develop unexplained fatigue, and those who suffer from fatigue are nearly three times as likely to become depressed” (WebMD, 2004).

   Depression and fatigue are known to affect men and women differently. Song, Jason, Taylor, Torres-Harding, Helgerson, and Witter (2002) conducted a study on the relationship between fatigue, age, and gender in an urban sample and found that African American women had significantly higher rates of fatigue when compared to African American men (Song, et al. 2002). In another study done by Nolen-Hoeksema (2001), it was reported that women are twice as likely as men to develop depression.

   One possible symptom that occurs in individuals who are feeling depressed and fatigued is over sleeping; known as hypersomnia, where the person sleeps for prolonged periods of time at night or increases their amount of sleep during the day (All About Depression, 2010). Findings also shows that feelings of fatigue and depression does not get better with bed rest and one may even feel tired and sluggish after having excess sleep (All About Depression, 2010 & KidsHealth, unknown).

   To better understand the impact of depression and fatigue on gender and sleep pattern, a study was conducted using a “Bivariate Correlations” design and an “Independent-Samples T Test” design in which subjects recorded their gender, their level of fatigue and the amount of depression felt over a one week period. Each participant filled out the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale questionnaire, and recorded and averaged the amount of time slept in their sleep log for thirty consecutive days. It was hypothesized that gender differences contributes to the level of depression and fatigue experienced by individuals, which in turn affects individuals total amount of sleep time.

Method
Participant
   Initially, twenty three subjects; ten males and fourteen females, were included in this study. However, two participants were terminated due to failing to report their questionnaires. Twenty two subjects; nine males and thirteen females, between the ages of twenty one and thirty seven (mean age = 26.2 years), completed the study. Each of the participants that took part in the study met the following requirements: All participants were City College Graduate Students attending experimental psychology class, and were identified using a six code system in the form of a constant-vowel-constant-number-number-number; i.e. DAN012.

Design

   The study consisted of four variables: Three descriptive variables; gender, depression, and fatigue, and one sleep variable; total amount of sleep time. It focused on whether gender differences contributes to the level of depression and fatigue experienced by individuals, and also on if depression and fatigue level affects individuals total amount of sleep time. An analysis of the data was performed using a “Bivariate Correlations” design and an “Independent-Samples T Test” design.

Measures

   Subjects were required to fill out a sleep log that consisted of one sleep variable; amount of sleep, as well as a questionnaire recording their gender, their level of fatigue and the amount of depression felt over a one week’s period. Each participant filled out the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the Fatigue Severity Scale questionnaire, and recorded the amount of time slept, for example, 8 hours, 30 minutes, 10 seconds, in their sleep log for thirty consecutive days.

Procedures

   The study consisted of three procedures: The first procedure involved subject’s filling out questionnaires recording their gender and their levels of depression and fatigue felt for seven days. Depression was recorded using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, where subjects read several statements and decided how much of the time the statement described how they have been feeling over a week’s period. Subjects measured whether the statement represented their feelings by checking one of the following categories: “a little of the time”, “some of the time”, “good part of the time”, or “most of the time” which represented the numbers one (lowest) to four (highest) respectively. Subjects then scored their results by adding together the number that was representative of each category checked for each statement.

   Fatigue was recorded using the Fatigue Severity Scale, where subjects read several statements and circled a number from one (lowest) to seven (highest), depending on how appropriate they felt the statement applied to them over a week’s period. A low value indicates that the statement is not very appropriate, and a high value indicates agreement with the statement. Participants scored their results by adding together the number circled for each statement to get their total score.

   The second procedure involved subjects keeping track of their total amount of sleep by filling out a sleep log each day for thirty consecutive days. The sleep variable was measured using standard time units (hours: minutes: seconds) and was recorded for each day in the following manner: Data for Sunday was recorded on Monday, Monday’s data was recorded on Tuesday, Tuesday’s data was recorded on Wednesday, and so forth, until thirty days worth of data was accounted for. Participants then averaged their one month’s; thirty days, of sleep time.

   The third procedure involved investigators pooling participant’s data in order to form one complete data sheet to conduct appropriate analysis.

Results

   It was hypothesized that gender differences contributes to the level of depression and fatigue experienced by individuals, which in turn affects individuals total amount of seep time. The data from the study was analyzed using a “Bivariate Correlations” design and an “Independent-Samples T Test” design. The results were as follows:

   A Bivariate Correlation was computed to assess the relationship between gender and the level of depression and fatigue experienced. There was a weak positive correlation between gender and depression, r = .268, n = 22, p > .05 (Table 1), which indicates that gender differences does not accurately predict the level of depression experienced by participants. Analysis using an Independent-Samples T Test design showed that there was no difference (t (20) = - 1.24, p > .05), in the level of depression for genders: Males; (M = 30.78 [S.D. = 8.62]), and Females: (M = 34.85 [S.D. = 6.76]) (Table 2). The level of depression experience by participants for a one week’s period was approximately the same for both men and women.

   There was however, a moderate positive correlation between gender and fatigue level, r = .412, n = 22, p > .05 (Table 3). Thus, gender differences moderately predict whether participants fatigue rate will increase. However, Analysis using an Independent-Samples T Test design showed that there was no difference (t (20) = - 2.02, p > .05), in fatigue severity for genders: Males; (M = 18.67 [S.D. = 5.10]), and Females: (M = 23.54 [S.D. = 5.84]) (Table 4). Fatigue severity can be, to some extent, predicted by gender differences, however the prediction showed to be minimal since both men and women in the study experienced approximately the same level of fatigue.

   A Bivariate Correlation was computed to assess the relationship between subject’s average total amount of sleep time for thirty days and the level of depression and fatigue experienced. There was a moderate negative correlation between the participant’s average thirty day total sleep time and the level of fatigue felt for seven days, r = - .306, n = 22, p > .05 (Table 5). Increases in the amount of sleep were moderately correlated with decreases in the level of fatigue (Graph 1).

   There was a moderate negative correlation between the participant’s average thirty day sleep and the level of depression felt for seven days, r = - .395, n = 22, p > .05 (Table 6). Therefore, increases in the amount of sleep were moderately correlated with decreases in the level of depression (Graph 2).

Discussion

   The current study has shown that the level of depression and fatigue experienced by subjects is not significantly affected by gender difference. During the seven day time period, men and women experienced the same level of fatigue and feelings of depression. The study also showed that when participants sleep more during the nights, their level of fatigue and feelings of depression moderately decreases. These findings suggest that the severity of depression and fatigue does not affect men and women differently, and also both conditions can be decreased if the amount of time spent sleeping is increased.

   The findings of this study were particular interesting for two reasons: First it was not supported by previous literature and second, it gives way for the development of new theories in future research. Earlier findings in research suggest that women are more likely than men to experience depression and fatigue. Song, Jason, Taylor, Torres-Harding, Helgerson, and Witter (2002) conducted a study on the relationship between fatigue, age, and gender in an urban sample. Using 3,692 subjects, they investigated the impact of age and gender on fatigue severity and found that African American women had significantly higher rates of fatigue when compared to African American men (Song, et al. 2002).

   Also, study done by Nolen-Hoeksema (2001) reported that women are twice as likely as men to develop depression. In this study, Nolen-Hoeksema indicted several reasons for why women are more prone to depression. These included but were not limited to; due to women possessing less power and status than men, women are more prone to experiencing certain trauma such as sexual abuse, because of women’s negative self concepts, and their coping styles such as their inability to take action to relieve their distress (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001).

   In addition, earlier findings in research also suggest that individuals who are depressed feels more fatigued and sleeps longer, which does not alienate or decrease the level of fatigue and depression, but instead serves as a symptom. All About Depression (2010) notes hypersomnia (over sleeping) as a possible symptom that occurs in individuals who are feeling depressed and fatigued. All About Depression (2010) & KidsHealth (Unknown) also notes that feelings of fatigue and depression does not get better with bed rest, but may cause one to feel tired and sluggish.

   The findings in this study can be use to possibly conduct a more in-depth research in the area of sleep and how it may affect individuals feelings of depression and fatigue. Most findings suggest that fatigue and depression can be caused by a lack of sleep; as noted by WebMD (Unknown); “lack of sleep caused by another medical illness or by personal problems can make depression worse”, but there are however little research done on hypersomnia (over sleeping) and its effects on depression and fatigue.

   The results of the current study show that there may be other factors that may impact individual’s feelings of depression and fatigue, and their amount of time spent sleeping. Two of those factors are substance use and behavioral activities. Participants in this study may have attended social events, or have an early work and/or school schedule which will in turn affect their amount of sleep time and even lead to one feeling fatigue and depressed due to the amount of activity being done. In addition, substance use may have also accounted for the feelings of depression and fatigue, and their amount of time spent sleeping. Participants may have hindered their sleep pattern and feelings of depression and fatigue by taking substances such as caffeine, sleeping medication and alcohol.

Reference 

All About Depression. (2010). About specific symptoms. Retrieved from: http://www.allaboutdepression.com/dia_12.html

KidsHealth. (Unknown). Chronic fatigue syndrome. Retrieved from: http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/cfs.html

Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2001). Gender differences in depression. Current Directions in Psychological Science, (10).

Song, S., Jason, A. L., Taylor, R. R., Torres-Harding, R. S., Helgerson, J., & Witter, E. (2002). Fatigue severity among African Americans: Gender and age interactions. The Journal of Black Psychology, 28.

WebMD: Better Information. Better Health. (2004). Depression, fatigue may fuel each other: Having one may dramatically increase the risk of developing the other. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20040618/depression-fatigue-fuel-each-other

WebMD: Better Information. Better Health. (Unknown). Sleep and depression. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-sleep-disorder