Psychological Factors Associated with Sleep Quality in Healthcare Professionals in Southern Ecuador

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the contribution of psychological inflexibility, loneliness, and depression to sleep quality among healthcare professionals in southern Ecuador (El Oro, Loja, and Zamora Chinchipe). A cross-sectional design was employed with a non-probability sample of 437 physicians and nurses, with a mean age of 34.16 years. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and several validated psychometric instruments via an online survey administered between November 2022 and February 2023. Sequential Canonical Analysis (SEQCA) was used to examine the contribution of the variables. Results indicated that psychological inflexibility significantly predicted loneliness, whereas loneliness and psychological inflexibility predicted higher levels of depression. In turn, depression was positively and significantly associated with poorer sleep quality, accounting for 42% of the model's variance. Sociodemographic variables had a limited impact, although younger professionals reported higher levels of depression. The findings highlight the central role of psychological factors in the sleep quality of healthcare staff.