Sleep Strategies for Insomnia: Music Common Sleep Aid Among Younger Adults

Individuals with insomnia commonly use multiple strategies as a sleep aid, including music, according to study findings published in the Journal of Sleep Research.

Researchers conducted an online survey of adults in Denmark to examine the strategies used to aid in sleep among the general population, with a particular focus on the use of music as a sleep aid. The survey was distributed via targeted advertising on a single social media website. Insomnia and sleep quality were evaluated with the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Linear and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used for statistical analysis.

A total of 1195 individuals were included in the final analysis (age range of 18-29 years, 19%; women, 51%). The sample was representative of the Danish population by age and sex. Overall, 35% of respondents were found to have insomnia according to the BIS, and 55% were found to have sleep problems according to the PSQI.

Almost all (99.0%) respondents reported using at least 1 sleep strategy a minimum of 1 to 2 times per month; the average number of sleep strategies used at least 1 to 2 times per month was 7.2 per respondent. The most common strategies were: following a routine (73%), reducing caffeine in the afternoon/evening (65%), and lowering the temperature in the bedroom (62%). Almost 1 in 5 respondents reported using strategies that were not included in the survey, such as listening to audiobooks, doing sudoku puzzles, or drinking tea.

Individuals with insomnia used a significantly greater number of sleep strategies at least 1 to 2 times per month vs those without insomnia (8.4 vs 6.6; P <.0001). With every 1-point increase in BIS score, the number of sleep strategies increased by 0.10 (P ≤.0001). Insomnia was associated with a higher likelihood of using sleep medications and smoking, and a lower prevalence of following a routine and having sex with a partner as a sleep strategy.

Overall, 20% of participants used music as a strategy for improving sleep at least 1 to 2 times per month, while 11% used music at least 1 to 2 times per week; 4.5% used music for sleep either every day or almost every day. Music was significantly more common among younger respondents (P =.00025), those with insomnia (P =.00021), and those with sleep problems (P =.00013). The relationship between age and listening to music for sleep was statistically significant, with older respondents less likely to use music as a sleep aid.

A significant positive association was observed between using music as a sleep aid and having insomnia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.68; 95% CI, 1.24-2.26).

Study limitations include sampling bias.

“This knowledge provides an important foundation for future public health interventions aiming to improve sleep in the general population by minimising sleep disruptive behaviours and enhancing positive sleep strategies instead,” the researchers concluded.